Albuquerque, New Mexico – UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested on Saturday following allegations of assaulting and threatening to kill a drug testing agent, as reported by local police.
The incident stemmed from a complaint filed by Crystal Martinez, a drug-test sample collection worker, who, alongside a colleague, arrived at Jones’ Albuquerque residence at 4 a.m. on March 30 to collect urine for a surprise drug test on behalf of Drug Free Sport International, a contractor for UFC.
In response to the allegations, neither UFC, Drug Free Sport International, nor Jones’ manager immediately provided comments on the situation.
Jones, in a statement shared on his Instagram account, acknowledged the incident involving the sample collectors but emphasized that the encounter concluded amicably and without any hostility.
Martinez detailed that Jones expressed dissatisfaction with the collection process and initially struggled to provide urine, leading her to propose a blood test as an alternative, escalating his frustration.
During the encounter, Jones allegedly made threats to sue the two sample collectors and exhibited hostile behavior, leaving the workers feeling intimidated and unsafe.
Following the incident, Martinez expressed her desire to press charges against Jones, despite facing discouragement from her supervisor, and ultimately reaching out to her superiors for support.
Jones denies the allegations of threatening the sample collectors and asserts that any offensive language used during the encounter was prompted by his frustration with the situation rather than any malicious intent.
Despite the summons issued against Jones for assault and interfering with communications, it does not appear he was taken into custody or booked, marking another legal entanglement for the UFC champion, who has a history of legal issues and suspensions related to doping violations.
As the story unfolds, further details regarding the incident and its implications on Jones’ career are expected to emerge, shedding light on the complexities surrounding athletes’ responsibilities and conduct in the realm of professional sports.