DC concedes loss to Jones, but not cool with failed anti-doping tests
Daniel Cormier: “My deal’s this, I never once said he didn’t win the fight. I’ve never said that.”
Former and likely future light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has twice failed anti-doping tests. However, neither indicated he was a blatant doper. However, his KO win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017 was changed to a No Contest, and will not be reinstated, despite an independent arbitrator in the USADA process determining that Jones was “not intentionally cheating” and the amount being what Jones characterized as the equivalent to a pinch of salt in a swimming pool.
Jones is upset that Cormier has seemed questioned the validity of the win to some extent. During a recent appearance on the ‘Jim Rome’ podcast, Cormier conceded Jones won, but argued coherently that there is a little asterisk floating over Bones.
My deal’s this, I never once said he didn’t win the fight,” said Cormier, as transcribed by Damon Martin for MMA Weekly. “I’ve never said that. Even when people would tell me ‘no you didn’t get a fair shake, it’s not cool, he cheated’, I said the guy won the fights. Cause I’ve always said, I’m sure he’s not the only guy I’ve ever fought who’s on steroids. I’ve always said that. I’ve been very open about that but when you say a pinch of salt — why was the pinch of salt there?
Why was it there without any explanation of why it got there? That’s my question. Why didn’t I have a pinch of salt in the swimming pool? That’s where my issue is. You win the fight, go ahead and win the fight but don’t leave anything to question is my response. Don’t have a pinch of salt. Don’t have tainted sex pills. Just don’t have that stuff and then we never have these discussions to discredit the things that you have done. That’s my response.
Cormier is not impressed with Jones saying he has no idea how a prohibited PED got into his body.
He knows,” said DC. “All these guys that are getting caught for cheating, they know. You don’t have a massive amount of guys in the same sport that are able to continuously and constantly test clean but then a select few that continue to pop positive for steroids. And they’ve never had an excuse, never had a reason as to why they tested positive. It just doesn’t make sense.
The guy has all these physical advantages. He’s taller, he’s bigger, he’s got all the advantages. Why are you trying to swing them in your favor even more? It’s just unfortunate the guy has tied so many negatives to an otherwise pretty incredible career.
Pinch of salt, no pinch of salt. You still had steroids in your system in a fist fight. Not cool.