Daniel Cormier on Jon Jones' failed drug test for steroids: 'I don't know what to think anymore'
Daniel Cormier heard the news of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ positive drug test by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on the first day of a family vacation in Hawaii.
In a statement released to the media, Cormier called the news, which potentially could result in his re-taking of the UFC light heavyweight title, “very emotional.
“It’s hard to find words to describe how I’m feeling right now,” Cormier said. “I’m disappointed to hear the news. We as athletes are entitled to due process, and I will refrain from saying much more until I know exactly what happened.”.
Cormier’s (19-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) journey over the last 13 months has been nothing short of a roller coaster.
In July 2016, just two days before his scheduled title unifier against Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) at UFC 200, he received word Jones had tested positive for two estrogen blockers and had been removed from the fight by USADA.
His reaction, captured by “UFC Embedded,” was to put his head in his hands in total disbelief. It’s hard to imagine a different take after the latest news.
Jones’ second positive steroid test – this time for turabinol, an oral steroid linked to a state-sanctioned doping program involving Olympic athletes from East Germany from the 1960s to the 1980s – left Cormier in shock weeks after a third-round knockout to Jones at UFC 214.
“In my mind, on July 29, I competed and I lost,” Cormier said. “I thought Jon Jones was the better man that day.
I don’t know what to think anymore. I can’t believe we are going through all of this again. We will see what happens next.”.
After his first positive test, Jones was suspended one-year and stripped of an interim belt he’d won while Cormier was injured, though a USADA arbitrator declared he didn’t knowingly cheat.
Now the future of the light heavyweight division is uncertain as USADA undergoes the results management process for Jones’ case. In the meantime, he is provisionally suspended. He faces a potential four-year suspension, according to the UFC.
Contrary to an initial report from TMZ, the UFC has yet to strip Jones of the undisputed UFC light heavyweight title.
But a second finding of guilt would almost certainly trigger that punishment in what’s been a litany of troubles for the talented 30-year-old fighter in and out of the cage.
For those closest to Cormier, the news of Jones’ latest setback is vindication.
“I personally don’t think Jon’s ever been a clean champ,” longtime PR rep Heidi Seibert told MMAjunkie. “I’m happy for D.C., and I think that he’s an amazing UFC champ and will continue to be.”.
Cormier’s teammates, meanwhile, question why Jones would choose to upend his life once again after fighting his way back to the title. “Why would he cheat again?” asked Cormier’s American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez.
But for the ex-champ, it’s a little more complicated. He was left in tears after losing the title to Jones, an opponent that defined his career in how they fought – or didn’t fight – each other amid a bitter rivalry.
In an unusual and emotional post-loss interview after UFC 214, Cormier said of his two-time opponent, “If he wins both fights, there is no rivalry.” There were questions of whether he would retire.
But later, he shrugged off his loss and expressed confidence he would face Jones a third time. If Jones is again found culpable, he might do so with the belt around his waist.
Here is Cormier’s full statement:. “It’s hard to find words to describe how I’m feeling right now,” Cormier said. “I’m disappointed to hear the news.
“We as athletes are entitled to due process, and I will refrain from saying much more until I know exactly what happened.
“In my mind, on July 29, I competed and I lost. I thought Jon Jones was the better man that day. I don’t know what to think anymore. I can’t believe we are going through all of this again.
We will see what happens next. “Thank you to all my fans who have supported me during this dark time. I love you all very much.”.
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