Jon Jones faced the media on Thursday to discuss the failed drug test that has resulted in his UFC 200 fight against Daniel Cormier being called off. The UFC interim light heavyweight champion fought back tears during the press conference, at one point leaving briefly to gather his emotions.
Jones denied knowingly taking any banned substances and said he cannot even pronounce the name of the metabolite he tested positive for.
Jon Jones is emotional as he addresses the media. pic.twitter.com/V4SPFLZ5fX
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 7, 2016
“Supposedly they found something in one of my samples that I have no clue what it is. I don’t even know how to pronounce it,” Jones said. “There’s a few things that have nothing to do with performance that I’ve tried. Like I said, whatever it is, I can’t even pronounce it.”
Jones said he is against using performance-enhancing drugs and has taken mostly the same supplements throughout his entire MMA career.
“I wouldn’t cheat,” he said. “Being labeled as someone who would cheat hurts me more than anything else I’ve ever been through in my career.”
Malki Kawa, Jones’ manager, said he is “1,000 percent positive” that Jones did not take a performance-enhancing substance. Kawa also expressed confidence that the situation will be resolved, though the chances seem slim.
The USADA does not ban recreational drugs out of competition. The same is true of narcotics like morphine or amphetamines, so the positive test was in all likelihood triggered by some sort of PED. Many were quick to jump to conclusions because of Jones’ admitted history with drug use, but the circumstances are different this time.
Either way, Jones is facing a two-year ban.
