UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will make his next title defense later this month against Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC 172 and Jones was randomly drug tested today after he asked for additional testing.
Jones revealed the drug test information during an interview with Ariel Helwani on Tuesday night’s edition of UFC Tonight on Fox Sports 1 and Teixeira is also being randomly drug tested.
Jones was tested today in Albuquerque, New Mexico by an independent lab that was sent by the Maryland State Athletic Commission. The independent lab took urine and blood from Jones and he asked for the additional testing to be done for this fight.
“It was urine and blood,” Jones told Helwani on UFC Tonight. “They had a test for HGH, or I think it was for HGH and then they had an urine test that kind of detects for other type of stuff. It was something that me and my management team asked for several months ago. We thought it would be great was playing fair in this fight.”
Jones was clear that he was not accusing Teixeira of taking any performance enhancing drugs. Also, Jones explained that the UFC is paying for the additional testing and the drug testing is random.
“I am not accusing my opponent of anything but it will be great to see. They [Maryland Commission] would need the UFC to approve it. The UFC approved it and paid for the whole thing. They never told me or Glover when our test will come but mine came today and I am happy that it came.”
The UFC champion wants everyone to know that he is a clean fighter and that he has never taken any type of performance enhancing drug. However, Jones made an interesting comment about fighters he has faced in the past.
“I know that I have probably fought people in the past who have but I have still come up with a way to win. I just think it’s important that it goes away and I want to see our sport be a clean sport. I want to see athletes have pride in hard work and that is why I though I would put my money where my mouth is and get tested myself.”
Jones would continue to say that he is not accusing Teixeira of being on any performance enhancing drugs, but he understand that there are people who will do anything for an edge in a title fight. The only edge that Jones believe someone should have in a fight is hard work.
In the past, Jones has talked about how he is against steroids and it makes him feel good that people will know he is a clean fighter. He is also hoping that the Maryland State Athletic Commission will send the independent lab out once again to do another test before he fights Teixeira on April 26 in Baltimore.
“I have been pretty verbal about being against steroids and it’s easy to say you are against it and maybe have people question you. I am not the biggest guy muscle wise. It makes me feel good that people see I have not taken anything and I am not on anything and this fight will be played out clean. I am actually hoping that we get tested again before the fight.”