UFC's Jones charged in case involving drug tests

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an incident with a drug testing agent on March 30. Public records on the New Mexico Courts website show that Jones has been charged with assault and interference with communications.

If convicted, Jones could face less than a year of jail time and be fined up to $500 for the assault charge — a petty misdemeanor — and $1,000 for the second charge.

A police report obtained by ABQ Raw said that an agent for the UFC’s anti-doping partners at Drug Free Sport went to Jones’ home in Albuquerque in an attempt to collect a random sample. The report said Jones “appeared agitated” when he was unable to provide a urine sample and was, instead, offered the opportunity to submit a blood sample.

The report said he allegedly took the testing agent’s cellphone, questioned why the agents arrive so early in the day and said “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.” In an Instagram post, which has since been deleted, Jones said he was “caught off guard by the unprofessionalism” of the testing agent and admitted to using profanity. But he denied threatening the agent with violence and denounced the accusations as “baseless.”

A virtual bond hearing has been scheduled for July 17 at 9:15 a.m. MT in Albuquerque Metropolitan Court, at which time Jones will enter a plea.

Jones is preparing to make his return to the Octagon to defend his UFC heavyweight championship. Although a date has not been formally announced, he has insisted that he will defend against former champion Stipe Miocic in New York at Madison Square Garden in November.