Pros Bash Jon Jones For Failed Drug Test
When the ground shattering news broke that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had failed an out-of-competition (OOC) drug test for cocaine prior to his decision win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 and was headed for rehab, a ton of questions immediately arose about the strange and unfortunate situation.
The UFC applauded Jones’ decision to enter drug rehab in a statement, and in an act of class, Cormier wished Jones luck with his demons in a statement to MMA Fighting:
“I am aware of Jon’s test, and if there is anything to say it is this: there are a lot of people you impact, so please let’s get it together. Good luck on your rehab!”
No stranger the struggles of drug addiction, The Ultimate fighter (TUF) veteran Court McGee issued his own heartfelt words of encouragement to Jones:
My thoughts go out to anyone afflicted by the news. Recovery is possible if I can do it anyone can. Love you brother. pic.twitter.com/Hjm8BgyrNU
— Court McGee (@Court_McGee) January 7, 2015
Yet while Cormier and McGee chose to focus on “Bones’” recovery, several other professional fighters did not echo that sentiment. Many were up in arms on Twitter about Jones’ blatant lack of any punishment and congratulations for breaking the rules without consequences while so many have been fined and suspended for using marijuana in-competition. TUF winner Michael Chiesa posed the question as to why cocaine was not banned OOC:
So cocaine ISN’T banned out of competition? Seems pretty fucked to me. — Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) January 6, 2015
Staunch UFC opponent and ONE FC champion Ben Askren chimed in with a sarcastic barb at Jones’ status as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world:
Jon Jones: Kilo for Kilo the best fighter on the planet!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 7, 2015
UFC and TUF veteran Matthew Riddle, who was fired for failing too many tests for marijuana, voiced his displeasure at what he deemed a highly contradictory set of rules:
@ufc @danawhite you dumb bitches fire me for weed while you allow fighters to use hard drugs with zero consequences. #ufcistrash — matthew riddle (@riddletuf7) January 6, 2015
Pat Barry apparently agreed with Riddle’s assessment of the situation, comparing the punishments for cocaine and marijuana in a disturbing contrast:
COCAINE= 0 FINE, 0 PENALTY, 0 SUSPENSION, 0 FIRED, 0 REPREMANDING WEED= CAREER CRUCIFIXION, FINE, FIRED, SHUNNED, OSTRACIZED, RUINED! ????
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) January 7, 2015
Finally, TUF Nations winner Elias Theodorou put a different spin on the entire situation, comparing Anderson Silva to Muhammad Ali to Jon Jones’ reluctant Mike Tyson in a new twist on tonight’s developments:
Anderson Silva is our Ali, and Jones our reluctant Tyson. Both idealized humans. When they fall, we shud want 2 see them rise, again. — The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) January 7, 2015
So the fighters have already spoken, and the backlash aimed at Jones is a sizeable one based on the UFC’s decision to praise Jones’ efforts to remain drug-free. A timetable has been set for his return, but one timetable that has already passed may raise an interesting point.
The UFC recently declared they would stop handling all OOC drug testing after they “f***** up” Cung Le’s positive test for human growth hormone (hGH) following UFC Fight Night 48.
While that no doubt played a part, do you think the announcement had anything to do with Jones’ failure?
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea for USA TODAY Sports
