UFC champ Jon Jones accused of death threat by drug tester, who is seen high-fiving him in video after alleged incident
A bizarre drug-testing incident involving UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones resulted in the star releasing his own surveillance footage in attempt to counteract a developing media narrative.
Jones, the reigning UFC champion for the 225-pound division, was accused of issuing a death threat to a female employee of the UFC's drug testing partner Drug Free Sport International.
The champion denied the characterization of the events and even publicized surveillance footage that showed him high-fiving the drug tester after the alleged incident.
When the drug testers, known as Crystal and Jerome, arrived to test Jones, the athlete was cooperative at first, an Albuquerque police report revealed. The report was first obtained by Sportnet's Aaron Bronsteter.
After Jones allegedly went to provide a urine sample with Jerome, Crystal claimed that her coworker returned and appeared nervous, while also stating that Jones could not pee.
Crystal reportedly told the police officer that Jones seemed to be "tense and puffed up" and allegedly asked the drug testers if they had money because he was going to sue them.
It was then that the female drug tester said Jones picked up her phone and started recording himself saying he was going to sue them.
The officer stated in the report that he viewed the video, which reportedly showed Jones saying, "Here f**king Jerome and his girlfriend in my garage," before the video cut off.
Crystal also accused Jones of putting her phone in his pocket before refusing to give it back, saying, "Why you f**king people come so early, do you know what happens to people who come to my house, they end up dead."
The drug tester said Jones later agreed to take a urine test, and left her phone on the counter. At that point, she texted her boss to tell him that she was afraid. She also said she was too afraid to call her boss out of fear that it would upset Jones if he noticed.
She also told authorities that she told Jerome's girlfriend, who was sitting in a car parked in the driveway, to leave because Jones seemed upset about the car in his driveway.
The tester also said that she thought Jones might have been drunk.
The Albuquerque Police Department's Public Information Officer has provided me with an updated incident report after Jon Jones was interviewed by the investigating officer.\n\nThe officer added that the court process involving a summons will take some time.\n\nHere is the update:— (@)
Jones would later take to Instagram to post his own statement, where he released video of himself and the alleged victim sharing a high five.
"I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone, I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug," Jones wrote.
"Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all. I was actually celebrating a friend’s birthday party at my home, and I believe it’s perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home," he continued.
"I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a [drug testing] officer before."
Jones' allegation of a HIPAA violation appeared to be in reference to the drug tester admitting in her own statement that her coworker's girlfriend was present.
The responding police officer noted that when he spoke to Jones by phone, the UFC fighter said that he was hungover at the time of the incident, and he has accused Crystal of being a liar in the past.
Jones reportedly clarified that he referred to his home as a "dangerous environment" as he may be having a party if drug testers arrive too early.
Jones also reportedly confirmed that he did claim he would sue Jerome because he brought his girlfriend to Jones' home, and he did not know them.
He reportedly admitted to swearing at Crystal when she allegedly said the next drug test would be "her and her husband" doing the testing.
As for the alleged phone stealing, Jones said he picked up Crystal's phone after thinking it was his and simply placed it on the counter afterward.
Subsequent reports made by outlets — such as NBC News — that claimed Jones was arrested were later denied by the fighter through a statement issued on X.
"I wanted to address some misinformation that has been circulating this morning. I woke up to false reports that I had been arrested. I have not been arrested," Jones declared. "I must admit, it's disappointing to have to clarify these things again, but I understand that I may be an easy target given some of my past issues. [I]t's important to set the record straight and make sure the truth is told."
Hello everyone,\nI wanted to address some misinformation that has been circulating this morning . I woke up to false reports that I had been arrested . I have not been arrested. In fact, I am currently in Texas with my daughters at a volleyball tournament.\n\nI must admit, it's\u2026— (@)
Jones has had a significant history with law-enforcement encounters and drug testers.
In 2015, he was stripped of his championship, which was light-heavyweight at the time, after an arrest for an alleged hit-and-run involving a pregnant woman.
In 2016, he was suspended over a drug test with former testing body USADA, while other rumors of wild stories of Jones attempting to avoid drug testers have circulated online for years.
The heavyweight was spotted on video at a comedy club in February 2024, as well, having a friendly exchange with a comedian who was on stage at the time.
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'F*** you, Steven': Intolerant TRANS activists disrupt NEW 'Change My Mind'
Anything is possible when Steven Crowder brings his "Change My Mind" table to a college campus.
Crowder filmed this installment of "Change My Mind" at The University of Texas in Denton, where he asked an enthusiastic crowd to change his mind on whether "biological males should not compete in women's sports."
Before Steven could sit down for a rational discussion, he humored the more unhinged crowd members and gave them the spotlight to shout their truths. Predictably, it turned out that the people screaming "f*** you" didn't have much else to share with the group, so Crowder moved ahead with the show.
The conversation kicked off with 21-year-old Isaac, who argued that his primary concern with Crowder's "men shouldn't compete in women's sports" sign was how Crowder worded his premise.
Watch the video to see Part One of the latest "Change My Mind." Can't watch? Download the podcast here.
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'It is a prizefight': Trump calls for drug testing on Biden and himself ahead of debates
President Donald Trump revealed his campaign team is requesting that drug tests be administered to himself and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden before their upcoming debates, citing suspicions that his opponent could be taking substances to enhance his mental acuity.
What are the details?
During a sit-down with The Washington Examiner, the president suggested Biden delivered a noticeably improved performance in his final Democratic primary debate against Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) after purportedly weak showings in the 10 previous debates.
"Nobody thought [Biden] was going to win," Trump told chief political correspondent Byron York. "Because his debate performances were so bad. Frankly, his best performance was against Bernie. We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie. It wasn't that he was Winston Churchill because he wasn't, but it was a normal, boring debate. You know, nothing amazing happened. And we are going to call for a drug test because there's no way — you can't do that."
York asked, "Is this like a prizefight, where beforehand you have a test?"
"Well, it is a prizefight," the president replied. "It's no different than gladiators, except we have to use our brain and our mouth. And our body to stand. I want all standing; they want to sit down."
Trump urged later in the interview, "Go back and watch his performances in some of those debates. He didn't know where he was. And all of a sudden, he was not good, he was normal, and I don't understand how. I don't know if there is or not, but somebody said to me, 'He must be on drugs.' I don't know if that's true or not, but I'm asking for a drug test. Both candidates. Me, too. I take an aspirin a day."
The president made the same suggestion as a candidate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016,
Prior to his final debate with Clinton, Trump said:
Maybe, we're like athletes, right? Look, I beat seventeen governors, senators, all these people... Hillary beat Bernie, although it looked like Bernie got a little bit of a bad deal based on Wikileaks, right? But we're like athletes, right? But athletes... they make them take a drug test. I think that we should take a drug test prior to the debate. I think we should... why don't we do that? We should take a drug test prior to... because, I don't know what's going on with her, but at the beginning of her last debate, she was all pumped up at the beginning, and at the end it was like, whoa, take me down. She could barely reach her car. So I think we should take a drug test. Anyway, I'm willing to do it.
The first of three debates between Trump and Biden is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio.