While Jon Jones, the current Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, relies on physical intimidation in the ring, he is now facing allegations that he threatened the life of a woman working for a drug-testing company.
According to reports, a man and woman identified as Jerome and Crystal came to Jones’ home to collect a urine sample and later claimed that he appeared intoxicated and behaved in a threatening manner.
I have received an incident report from the Albuquerque police department regarding Jon Jones and the @ABQRAW report.
It confirms that an anti-doping control officer told police that Jones, who appeared intoxicated, threatened her life and took her phone.
Story coming soon. https://t.co/6VYWvoAfcA
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 6, 2024
Jones has disputed the claims, even releasing his own surveillance footage that appears to show him giving one of the drug testers a high five during the same visit.
A complaint filed by Crystal with the police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, states that Jones became “tense and puffed up” during the encounter and indicated that he would sue the drug testers. She reportedly began filming the ensuing dispute on her phone and a police officer confirmed that he viewed the footage.
“Here f—ing Jerome and his girlfriend in my garage,” Jones reportedly said in the video.
According to Crystal, he grabbed her phone and refused to return it, saying at one point: “Why you f—ing people come so early? Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”
Crystal claimed that she texted her supervisor to report feeling afraid of the fighter, but Jones shared a much different account of the incident.
“I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone,” he said in a social media statement. “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.”
He acknowledged feeling “frustrated with the unprofessionalism” of the drug testers, admitting that he “used profanity out of frustration,” though he asserted that the encounter “ended friendly and amicably” without any threats.
“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,” Jones added.
While some media reports indicated that he was arrested, he disputed that claim in another social media statement.
“I woke up to false reports that I had been arrested,” he wrote. “I have not been arrested. 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.”
In addition to claims that he has previously attempted to evade drug testing, his light-heavyweight championship was rescinded in 2015 following an arrest related to claims of his involvement in a hit-and-run collision.
