UFC champ Jon Jones apologizes for failed test, says he's taking rehab 'very seriously'

Jon Jones

Following news of his failed drug test, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones issued an apology to a long list of supporters.

As MMAjunkie reported earlier this today, Jones failed an out-of-competition drug test prior to this past weekend’s UFC 182 event due to benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine.

Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who earned a unanimous-decision victory over rival Daniel Cormier (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in the Jan. 3 pay-per-view headliner in Las Vegas, has since entered rehab.

Today, he issued a statement to FOX Sports 1’s “America’s Pregame” and apologized (via Twitter):

I want to apologize to my fiancee, my children, as well as my mother, father and brothers for the mistake that I made. I always to apologize to the UFC, my coaches, my sponsors and equally important to my fans. I’m taking this treatment program version seriously.

Despite test results being available prior to UFC 182 (the Nevada State Athletic Commission tested Jones on Dec. 4 and received the results on Dec. 23, executive director Bob Bennett told MMAjunkie), Jones was permitted to fight. Because benzoylecgonine is not banned out of competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the NSAC could not halt Jones from fighting at the event, where he notched his eighth consecutive title defense.

The UFC issued a statement praising Jones and “applaud him for making this decision to enter a drug treatment facility.” UFC President Dana White said he’s “proud” of the champion’s decision.

The organization has announced any sort of punishment for the 27-year-old fighter, who’s ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings and pound-for-pound rankings.

For more on UFC 182, check out the UFC Events section of the site.