Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been handed a 15-month retroactive suspension for his second violation of the UFC anti-doping policy.

The American tested positive for a prohibited steroid metabolite substance in July last year before his bout with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California.

The 31-year-old went into arbitration with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and could have faced a four-year ban, but could now return to the octagon in October.

Before the hearing, USADA had indicated it was seeking an 18-month suspension but said it respected the arbitrator’s 15-month sanction, which took into consideration that multiple tests leading up to UFC 214 had returned negative results for prohibited substances.

USADA chief executive Travis T Tygart said: “The independent arbitrator found that Jon Jones was not intentionally cheating in this case, and while we thought 18 months was the appropriate sanction given the other circumstances of the case, we respect the arbitrator’s decision and believe that justice was served.”

In his ruling, chief arbitrator Richard H McLaren, from McLaren Global Sport Solutions Inc, described Jones as a “truthful witness” and a “very credible person”.

He added: “He gave me the very distinct impression that he has learned a lot from the loss of the image of himself that he had as a champion MMA fighter. He has been humbled and humiliated by the experience but has learned from his misfortune. He needs the opportunity to regain his dignity and self-esteem.”

The suspension is backdated to July 28, 2017, meaning Jones will be able to enter the Octagon on October 28 and will be eligible for UFC 230 on November 3 at Madison Square Garden.

The New York native expressed his relief at the decision on Twitter, thanking those who stood by him during the “toughest stretch of my life”.

“It’s difficult to express myself at this moment but I can definitely say my heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation. I want to thank all of you who have stood by me during the toughest stretch of my life,” he wrote.

“It has meant the world to me and always will. But now is the time to shift the focus front and center to the road ahead. Greatness is what I’m chasing and the path to reclaiming my throne is now officially open. Comeback Season begins now.”

Jones’s victory at UFC 214 was recorded as a no-contest, and the UFC stripped him of the championship belt.

The California State Athletic Commission previously fined Jones 205,000 dollars (£155,000) and revoked his licence until the conclusion of the disciplinary process.

In 2016, Jones was suspended for a year following a failed drugs test.