Hendo: Jones should have been punished more for recreational drug use
Dan Henderson on Jone Jones punishment: “It doesn’t have the fans and public respect the UFC when they don’t lay the hammer down a little bit.
When UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for cocaine, the shock was immense, but the consequences were not. Crucially, the out-of-competition test for recreational drugs was administered in error by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. While competing high is barred by the World Anti-Doping Agency, from the point of view of performance enhancement, the use of recreational drugs is – properly – not relevant. It is a matter between the subject and local or Federal law enforcement, between the subject and his or her family, friends, and conscience, and between the subject and his or her employer.
The consequences to Jones were slight. He entered what was described as 24-hour evaluation and then entered what was described as out-patient counseling. He was fined $25,000 by the UFC for violation of the fighter Code of Conduct. There was no suspension.
The legendary Dan Henderson spoke with Rick J Lee, and the fighter said the punishment was not sufficient.
“I’m an advocate of MMA and representing the sport well and when you don’t do that that’s when I’m not really a big fan of you,” said Henderson as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting.com. “Jon, as being young or whatever it was, made some poor decisions. When he’s in the spotlight of the UFC champ you’re subject to higher standards.
“You need to follow through with that for yourself. At least make sure that you’re doing everything to publicly portray the UFC and the sport well. When you don’t do that, that’s when I have a problem.”
“Yea, I think there should have been much higher consequences for that. It doesn’t teach anyone a lesson. It doesn’t have the fans and public respect the UFC when they don’t lay the hammer down a little bit. The UFC can still get behind him and push him to ‘cean up,’ but there still needed to be some sort of reprimand, also.
“Not just a little, ‘Hey, we’re behind you all the way. We’re glad you’re getting help. We’re glad you went to rehab for 10 hours or four hours’ or whatever it was. That’s all it was. I think there could have been more.”
Jon Jones fights Anthony Johnson on May 23 in the main event of UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada.