Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar Reportedly Could Receive Shorter Suspensions

Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar, who each tested positive for banned substances before UFC 200, may face only a maximum one-year ban because the drugs they took could have a "credible non-doping explanation."

Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting reported the news, citing the United States Anti-Doping Agency's policy. In most cases, fighters who test positive are subject to maximum two-year suspensions—one that in Lesnar's case would keep him out of the Octagon well past age 40.

Both fighters tested positive for hydroxy-clomiphene, which is considered a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). It's a drug that could theoretically be used to block the production of estrogen, related to a performance-enhancing drug cycle.

Jones also tested positive for letrozole, which can be used to treat breast cancer.

The World Anti-Doping Agency Code's bylaws consider both drugs "specified substances," which means they could have gotten into Jones' or Lesnar's system through something not related to PED use. Those drugs are specifically named to "allow a tribunal more flexibility when making a sanctioning decision."

Jones, 29, was pulled from his scheduled UFC 200 bout with Daniel Cormier three days before the event when the test result came back. It was going to be his second UFC fight since serving a six-month suspension after being involved in a drug-related hit-and-run. If forced to serve a full year out of the sport, he'll have fought just once over a span of more than two years.

Lesnar, 39, defeated Mark Hunt via unanimous decision in his return bout to MMA after an absence of nearly five years. His positive test result did not come back in time to take him out of UFC 200. An in-competition test July 9 also revealed Lesnar had hydroxy-clomiphene in his system. He will not face additional penalties for that failed test because he was not informed of the first failure at the time.

The current WWE Superstar has not ruled out returning to the UFC, according to an interview with TMZ. He made his in-ring return Sunday at WWE SummerSlam, defeating Randy Orton via a bloody TKO. WWE has not punished Lesnar for the drug failure and has no plans to do so, citing his part-time status.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.