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The long delay in resolving Jon Jones’ U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) case has sparked plenty of speculation about what’s going on behind the scenes.

As months have dragged by, the UFC’s anti-doping partner has stayed silent, as it typically does during the results management phase of cases. But one rumor – that Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) has paid USADA to resolve his second alleged anti-doping offense – has prompted a response.

In a written statement, USADA spokesperson Danielle Eurich told MMAjunkie, “In relation to some media and social media comments we have observed, USADA wishes to clarify that under no circumstances do we receive payments as part of the resolution of cases.”

USADA declined any additional comment on the status of Jones’ case.

The statement comes almost two months after former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington (14-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) insinuated Jones, his former college roommate and avowed rival, of tipping the scales in his favor through his “scumbag” management team.

“They’re probably trying to pay off the UFC or USADA somehow to get him back earlier,” Covington told the “You’re Welcome” podcast in July (via Bloody Elbow). “You never know the UFC’s side, they want to do business and make money, so if he’s available, and USADA clears him, then they’’re gonna want to do business and put him back out there to fight and make that company money.

“They’ve got a $4 billion installment on that loan to pay back, so they’re gonna do whatever it takes to make money and pay back that loan.”

The UFC did not publicly comment on Covington’s interview. Jones tore into the brash welterweight month earlier, denying claims that he’d used steroids since college. The two have traded several insults during Covington’s rise, with Jones recently calling his ex-roommate an “extraordinary liar.”

Jones, 31, faces a maximum four-year suspension after an in-competition drug test came up positive for the steroid turinabol, invalidating a UFC 214 win over Daniel Cormier (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) that made him UFC light heavyweight champion. Cormier was subsequently reinstated and went on to win the heavyweight title with a knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July.

In early July, Jones’ longtime manager Malki Kawa told ESPN.com he expected a resolution by the end of the month, adding “the right thing could be he’s innocent, but he’s still going to have suspension because he was negligent.”

During a hearing in February with the California State Athletic Commission, Jones denied knowingly taking any banned substances. But he couldn’t explain how the steroid turinabol made it into his system. His attorney pointed to the testimony of an anti-doping expert hired by the Jones team, who said the three tests passed by the fighter before and immediately after UFC 214 did’t indicate intentional use.

The CSAC was unmoved by Jones’ explanation and revoked his fight license while handing down a hefty fine.

In August, Jones hinted at an imminent return to the octagon and subsequently said he’d like to hand Cormier two more losses. USADA drew heavy criticism from the MMA community after its athlete testing history revealed Jones had been drug tested only once this year.

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