A tearful Jon Jones faced the media for the first time since his removal from UFC 200’s card following a failed drugs test.
Jones along with manager Malki Kawa, released a statement apologising and denying any wilful wrongdoing.
As reported by MMA Fighting, Jones said he is expecting the results of his B sample testing to come back shortly.
GettyJones said:
I want to first start by apologizing to all of the fans who came out and supported me for UFC 200, and obviously the UFC and the Fertittas for not being able to perform. I know they spent a lot to promote this event.
Daniel Cormier, I want to apologize to Daniel Cormier. I know that this fight means a lot to him. The fight means a lot to me and the fight is not happening. So I just want to apologize everyone sincerely…I’ve been taking the same supplements for the majority of my career and I’ve been so outspoken about being against any type of performance enhancers.
I’m still to the day against performance enhancers. And so the one thing that sucks, being labeled as someone who cheats, it hurts me more than anything else I’ve ever been through in my career.
GettyJones was s overwhelmed at one stage that he had to leave the press conference to recompose himself, and on his return he repeatedly insisted he would not cheat.
He said to fans:
I wouldn’t cheat. That’s not who I am.
For all of the people who believed in me, continue to believe in me, because this story isn’t over and the best is yet to come.
Let’s figure out what this is before passing judgement and figure out what’s going on. I think people who are fans of mine know that I’m a fighter, and that adversity is not something that defeats me and I am hard to be broken.
According to Kawa, Jon Jones has been tested eight times since the end of 2015 by the USADA, with only the June 16 test flagging any potential PED use.
Daniel Cormier will now face Anderson Silva on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena, with the Brazilian stepping up on two day’s notice, just seven weeks after gall bladder surgery.
