Jon
Jones has been accused of assaulting and threatening to kill an
agent from Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) at his Albuquerque,
New Mexico, home last month.
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ABQ Raw first reported the news. According to a
police report, the drug-testing agent, who is identified as Crystal
Martinez, entered Jones’ home on March 30 to collect a sample as
part of the UFC’s anti-doping program. Further details regarding
the police report, which was filed on April 5, were initially
shared by MMAFighting.com. Based on the report, Jones is
charged with assault and interference with communications for
allegedly taking Martinez’s phone.
Martinez alleges Jones was cooperative at first but became agitated
when he was unable to initially provide a urine sample. When
Martinez suggested taking a blood sample instead, Jones threatened
to sue, took her phone and began recording Martinez and her
co-worker. An Albuquerque Police Department officer later reviewed
the video.
According to the report, Jones then put the phone in his pocket and
got in Martinez’s face.
“Why you f—ing people come so early? Do you know what happens to
people who come to my house? They end up dead,” Jones is alleged to
have said.
Martinez told police she was “terrified” but elected to continue
with the drug-testing process because she didn’t want to further
anger Jones due to potential penalties from the UFC. Jones was
eventually able to provide a urine sample, and Martinez obtained
her phone during that period. Martinez texted her boss, who is
identified as Pierson Laughlin, regarding her concerns but was
unwilling to talk to Laughlin because she was afraid Jones “would
attack her if he saw her on the phone.”
Martinez later told police that she believed Jones was intoxicated.
When contacted by police on Friday, Martinez indicated that she
wanted to pursue charges. However, her co-worker did not want to
press charges due to potential “repercussions.” Laughlin,
meanwhile, declined to give a statement to police. According to
Martinez, Laughlin “seemed like he was trying to talk her out of”
filling a police report when they spoke on April 4. Martinez also
claimed that Laughlin told her to “hold off [on filing a police
report] until UFC representatives spoke with her.”
Jones has since responded to the accusations, also sharing a video
that shows him giving a high five to one of the DFSI agents.
“I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug
tester’s life and taking a phone,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “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. Although I was frustrated with the
unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration, it ended
friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all. 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.
“I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally
and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws.
Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have
never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before.”
Jones, who is recovering from a torn pectoral suffered last year,
is expected to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe
Miocic later this year when he is cleared to compete. The UFC
ended a partnership with former anti-doping partner USADA last
year,
continuing its program with new anti-doping partner DFSI at the
beginning of 2024.