Jones Talks Failed Drug Test: ‘I Knew The Test Would Come Out Positive’
Earlier tonight, Jon Jones first interview since it was announced that he failed a random pre-fight drug test, was aired on Fox Sports 1.
The champ spoke to Charissa Thompson to discuss his cocaine usage, the failed drug test, his stint in rehab, and his fighting future.
“I definitely don’t have an excuse. I’m not here to make excuses for what happened. I did it, basically at a party. I think a coward would sit here and try to come up with this elaborate reason or to try to blame something, and I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to blame friends or blame pressure or stress. I’m not going to blame anything. But what I will say is that, I messed up. It wasn’t a mistake. I can’t call it a mistake necessarily, because I consciously did it.”
Jones caught criticism for staying in rehab only one night, however the champ explained the full circumstances behind his brief stay, and then went on to discuss his feelings on the situation.
“Me going to rehab was, I would say it was a collective decision between myself and some of my business partners. They thought it would be good. I told them right away, ‘Dude, I don’t have a drug problem, I just got caught.’ They said, ‘Jon, we don’t know if you have a drug problem or not. Listen, how about you go to rehab and let them decide how healthy you are.’
“So I went to a rehab facility and I did a 24-hour evaluation, where I spoke to three doctors for almost seven hours. We talked about drugs and the role they’ve played in my life and my upbringing. They came to the conclusion that I didn’t need in-patient treatment, so they put me in an out-patient house. I stayed there the next day with a bunch of different addicts. The counselor came to me at the house and he set me down and he said, ‘Jon, I really believe that you made a big mistake and that you don’t need to live here with us full time, but what I will do is continue to drug test you and to come by your house twice a week, or however often.”
“For me, it was just a really embarrassing situation. I had to explain to so many people that I’m not a cocaine addict by any means. I’m not even a frequent user. I just made a really dumb decision, just really got caught with my pants down on this whole situation.”
“I knew that the test would come out positive. I knew it would be a positive test. I just, I knew there was nothing I could do about it. I was stressed out about it, but I just thought I’d focus on what I could control, and that was just the fight.”
“I’m trying to figure out who I am as well, but like anybody else, I have my own issues that I deal with. I have my own insecurities. I have a life that I have to deal with, just like you. Now that the whole sports world knows, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m not going to have a drink or enjoy life. I think a lot of people can relate to me. The important thing is to learn when we fall down, to get back up, to not beat yourself up too hard about it, and to try to do things better. … The best ways I can come back from this, really, is to continue being a winner, and to not let things like this happen again. And just to learn. It’s not a defeat if you learn something.”
“My message to my fans is that I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for maybe betraying their belief, or just letting them down really. I definitely have let myself down, my family, my team, the UFC, and my fans.”
You can watch the full interview HERE.
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