Three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson will come back stronger than ever after a second loss to Jon Jones at UFC 232, his manager assures.

As for Team Gustafsson’s opinion on Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) as a clean athlete, the post-fight test results from his UFC 232 victory over Gustafsson (18-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in December, as well as the taunting celebratory reaction from “Bones,” do nothing to change their stance.

“We hold the same position about Jones as it relates to the doping controversy,” Gustafsson manager Nima Safapour wrote to MMAjunkie in a prepared statement. “Whatever he is doing, it smells terrible.”

While Safapour doesn’t dispute the results of this past month’s rematch between Jones and Gustafsson, a third-round TKO and title win for Jones, he remains critical of the way an “abnormal” test result was handled prior to the event.

“His results were, ‘pulsing,’ in August and September, which means he did not test negative,” Safapour wrote. “Does that mean he tested positive on those occasions? Those same tests results were not given to the California commission at Jon’s last hearing, nor was it given to California when he failed his test from December.”

Jones, 31, was found to have trace amounts of the M3 metabolite for oral turinabol on three occasions. However, because the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said the positives were related to a failed drug test in July 2018 that resulted in a 15-month suspension, and the amount of metabolites – which may “pulse” in and out of his system indefinitely – provided no performance-enhancing benefit, Jones couldn’t be suspended.

Still, the UFC chose to move UFC 232 from Nevada to California when the Nevada State Athletic Commission required a hearing to review Jones’ drug test results from the past 18 months. Several weeks prior to the shocking move, Jones received a temporary license in California that would allow him to get licensed in Nevada.

The California State Athletic Commission was not aware of Jones’ abnormal test results at the time of licensing. But the commission immediately drug tested Jones and required him to participate in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) upon learning of his test results.

Jones has since passed all of his drug tests and has steadfastly denied every knowingly taking performance-enhancers. The UFC has backed him saying he did nothing wrong.

But Safapour sees a big problem with Jones’ career moving forward, equating the decision to allow him to compete with oral turinabol metabolites in his system “a pseudo-exemption to fight despite the likelihood that he will test positive with any, and potentially, all of his future opponents.”

“Why are other fighters not having these problems? We are just supposed to believe that Jon is an innocent victim that has the worst luck in MMA history,” Safapour wrote.

As for what comes next in Gustafsson’s career, a potential move to heavyweight has been discussed. The Swedish star has brushed off the idea of retirement and said he’ll continue to fight as long as he can. He’s also praised Jones’ abilities and called him the “better man” despite a bitter war of words before UFC 232.

Safapour, however, said his team hasn’t given up on the idea of beating Jones one day, and Jones said it’s a fight he expects to happen again, too.

“The plan is to come back stronger than ever,” he wrote. “The fight was the fight. We still believe 100 percent that Alex can beat Jones. Just depends on the day. Anyone can win depending on the circumstances of the fight. It was not our day, but we will come back and get the title in due time either from Jon or whoever else is holding the title at that time. Expect to see ‘The Mauler’ back in action soon.”

For more on UFC 232, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.