The California State Athletic Commission has officially scheduled an administrative hearing on UFC star Jon Jones' failed drug test, during a meeting later this month in Anaheim.
Jones (22-1) will appear before the commission on Feb. 27. The hearing has been expected for months, but was only added to CSAC's official agenda on Wednesday. MMAFighting.com first reported the news.
Arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Jones, 30, is facing a possible fine and suspension for a failed drug test on July 28, the day prior to a championship fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 214.
He faces potential sanctions from CSAC and United State Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which administered the test. Jones tested positive for traces of the steroid turinabol, but has maintained innocence on how it entered his system.
Jones passed multiple drug tests in early July, as well as one administered on July 29 -- just one day after the failed test. Per USADA records, he was also tested in the fourth quarter of 2017. Sources told ESPN that test came back clean.
It is, nevertheless, the second failed test of Jones's career. He served a one-year suspension in 2016, after testing positive for the banned substances clomiphene and letrozole. Jones claimed that failed test was caused by a contaminated sexual enhancement pill. An independent arbitrator ruled that Jones was "not a drug cheat," but had still acted recklessly.
There is no guarantee the potential sanctions from CSAC and USADA will be identical. Jones' manager Malki Kawa, however, recently told The Luke Thomas Show he believes there is a "95 percent chance" Jones will be cleared to fight in 2018.
Jones is a former UFC light heavyweight champion. He reclaimed the title by defeating Cormier via TKO at UFC 214, but that result was later changed to a no-contest due to the failed drug test.