Jon Jones has had a very mixed relationship with the UFC’s drug-testing authorities over the years but says that Nate Diaz shouldn’t be disheartened after being notified of failing a USADA test despite vigorously protesting his innocence, as Jones says that the exact same thing happened to him.
Diaz plunged the upcoming ‘BMF” bout against Jorge Masvidal which was scheduled to headline next month’s UFC 244 card in New York City into question after releasing a statement on social media late Thursday saying he had tested positive for “elevated levels”, but that he vehemently disagreed with the findings and was removing himself from competition until the allegations were dropped.
Another fighter who has had similar issues in the past is UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, the subject of many a headline regarding his ‘picogram’ test ahead of a fight with Alexander Gustafsson. Jones has always maintained his innocence and last night issues a supportive message to Diaz ahead of his own USADA showdown.
I know you feel like someone is setting you up, that’s exactly how I felt. At times its going to feel like a pretty hopeless situation but maybe it’s not, you can’t just give up and do nothing. This is a different type of fight man, you owe it to your fans to fight it.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019
Not many people in the world know what you’re feeling right now, I do. Keep your head up man. I knew I was innocent and was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours with scientists and lawyers to prove it.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019
“Not many people in the world know what you’re feeling right now, I do,” Jones wrote. “Keep your head up man. I knew I was innocent and was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours with scientists and lawyers to prove it.
“I know you feel like someone is setting you up, that’s exactly how I felt. At times its going to feel like a pretty hopeless situation but maybe it’s not, you can’t just give up and do nothing. This is a different type of fight man, you owe it to your fans to fight it.”
Jones has tested positive on more than one occasion, popping at various times for having clomiphene, letrozole, and the anabolic steroid turinabol in his system.
