I guess what I'm wondering is just how frequently USADA applies Mitigating/Aggravating Circumstances toward the final sanction decision? Certainly when someone gets less than the baseline suspension it gets mentioned repeatedly (especially when it involves the ever popular "tainted supplement" excuse), but it's rare to hear about someone getting additional suspension time beyond the baseline.
Its hard to compare because like i say, penalties under teh wada code are different to penalties under the UFC program.
a first offence under the WADA code is 4 years, with potential for reductions., A first offence in the ufc (for most substances) is 2 years with potential to increase to 4 years if aggravating circumstances present.
thats why i refer to UFC being 2+2 whereas wada code is 4-2
Its much easier to get a 4 year ban in teh UFC than it is a 4 year ban under WADA
Under the WADA code Jones would be facing 8 years, less any reductions for degree of fault etc.
Under teh UFC program Jones is facing 4 years with potential for increase up to 8 years but incredibly unlikely
but its hard to compare regular usada suspensions under the wada code with ufc suspensions because the starting point, and the criteria for reductiomn/increase is totally different.
its like trying to compare UK court cases with US ones.
that said, the chances of Jones facing more than 4 years is pretty remote. to get aggravating circumstances to stick
1) must enhance in bout performance - they can tick that one off
and then one of
+ be part of a co-ordinated doping scheme - hard to prove
or
+ Be one of multiple positives or a positive involving multiple substances - neither of which it is
I think it will be hard to stick.
im more intersted in, if, like last time Malki co-ordinates a total load of obvious BS, whether USADA charge him with a doping violation (which they can do)