Jon Jones fined £147,370 and has MMA licence revoked after doping hearing

UFC star Jon Jones has been fined £147,370 and had his fighting licence revoked after a hearing in front of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Jones, 30, tested positive for the steroid Turinabol ahead of his win against current light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, in July 2017.

The American was subsequently stripped of his title, for the third time, and his win over Cormier was later declared a no-contest.

Jones was forced to give up the light-heavyweight title in 2015 following a hit-and-run incident and was stripped of it a second time following an anti-doping violation in 2016.

His career is now hanging in the balance, with further sanctions expected from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which could suspend him from fighting for four years for a second offence.

Jones told the hearing he believed he had ingested the steroid, in his most recent case, inadvertently through a medical supplement.

CSAC executive Andy Foster said he believed Jones' story, telling the hearing "It doesn't make any sense" that the fighter would knowingly take steroids while in competition.

"I want to be very clear that I do not believe that we should end Mr. Jones' career today," Foster said. "But I do believe he should sit out for a while."

"I want to thank CSAC for taking the time and hearing my case, and executive officer Andy Foster for saying he believes me," Jones wrote on Twitter following the verdict.

Jones may be allowed to re-apply for his licence once USADAdeterminese any further sanctions.