UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday to misdemeanor charges related to a drug test conducted at his New Mexico residence. The charges stemmed from an incident where Jones was accused of being hostile during the testing session.
During a virtual hearing in Albuquerque, Jones, accompanied by his attorney, had the pleas entered on his behalf. The judge granted the attorney's request for Jones to remain free pending trial on charges of assault and interference with communication.
Jones has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he did not engage in any threatening behavior, raise his voice, or commit assault during the incident. He expressed surprise at the accusations and attributed his frustration to what he perceived as unprofessional conduct by one of the testers.
Regarded as one of the top MMA fighters, Jones claimed the heavyweight title over a year ago with a first-round submission victory. He holds the record for the most light heavyweight title wins, with 14 victories to his name.
This is not the first time Jones has faced controversy related to drug testing. He was previously suspended in 2016 for a failed drug test and had a victory overturned in 2017 due to another positive test result. Jones argued that the standards for drug testing had been revised in 2019, and he would have passed under the updated criteria.
The charges against Jones were brought forward by a woman working for Drug Free Sport International, responsible for conducting tests for professional athletes. She alleged that Jones had threatened her, taken her phone, and used profanity during the testing process at his home.
According to the criminal complaint, the woman initially described Jones as cooperative but noted that he became agitated as the test progressed. Jones, on the other hand, claimed that he mistook the woman's phone for his own and apologized for his language at the end of the test.
Jones posted video footage from his home security system showing what appeared to be a friendly interaction between him and the woman before she left the premises. He emphasized that neither party seemed fearful during the encounter.
