Less than a week ago, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for cocaine metabolites and was checked into a rehabilitation center immediately after the results were revealed to the public. Since then, fans, pundits, and fellow fighters have weighed in on the surprising situation and how this may impact the reigning pound-for-pound kingpin’s legacy.
Former two-division champion Randy Couture is one of the fighters who believes this will undoubtedly tarnish the champ’s legacy.
“Cocaine is an illegal substance whether it’s performance enhancing or not,” Couture told Submission Radio. “So it raises a whole bunch of other questions about Jon and obviously he’s volunteered to put himself in to rehab, which is good for him. I hope that goes well. It’s a shame that the reputation and the ability that he brings to the cage is a little bit tarnished now because of this, but it is what it is. He’s the one who has to look himself in the mirror and deal with that. It will be interesting to see what his fight night drug test comes back and if it comes back clean. If it doesn’t come back clean, then obviously the commission will have no choice but to peruse sanctions against him. Will they go easy on him because he’s subjected himself to rehab? That’s a question we’ll see I guess when the results come back.”
Couture also added that Jones should not be given any leniency because his positive test was not for a standard performance-enhancing drug. He notes that cocaine has the ability to alter one’s state of mind and act as a numbing agent during the fight.
“Well obviously whether or not it’s performance enhancing is another definition and thing that needs to be understood. But let’s make it clear, we’re in a combative sport where pain and getting hit, and all those certain things, and being able to endure those better are a factor in fights. That’s why it is a banned substance on fight night. ‘Cause if he’s numbed and in a different state of mind from cocaine to handle the pain and everything we go through as fighters, then he’s enhancing his performance.
“Now is that the case and is that what was going on during training camp? Did he have, you know issues, injuries, and things that were going on that he was trying to alleviate some of that pain and endure that to get through camp? I don’t know those answers. But that’s the kind of the distinguishing thing between in-competition and out of competition, and what you can do in your training and in your regular life, verses what you can do on fight night. And so in some ways cocaine and those types of drugs that have that numbing effect are banned in competition.”
Transcription taken from Submission Radio.
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