UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones says he will not necessarily request that all future opponents undergo drug testing prior to bouts, as he has for an upcoming fight this month.
Jones (19-1) is scheduled to defend his title against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 on April 26 in Baltimore. At Jones' request, the two have been randomly drug tested ahead of the bout by the Maryland State Athletic Commission.
A six-time defending champion, Jones, 26, said he made the request due to Teixeira's reputation for being very physically strong. He made it clear he has no evidence the Brazilian has ever used performance-enhancing drugs, but wanted to be sure.
"Not necessarily," said Jones, when asked if random testing is something he would continue to demand for. "I just thought I would have Glover tested because he's not the youngest fighter and everyone raves about how strong he is.
"Some fighters, you just know they're not on anything just by looking at them. Part of (Teixeira's) mystique is his amazing physical strength and I just questioned it. I have no reason to think he's on steroids but I do wonder how someone can be so strong."
Teixeira (22-2) has never failed a drug test in his career, which dates back to 2002. His manager Ed Soares declined to comment on Jones' comments.
In 2010, world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced he would require all future opponents to undergo Olympic-style testing, which utilizes both blood and urine tests.
Jones said he "knows" some of his previous opponents have been on performance-enhancing drugs, but declined to provide names. Nevertheless, he said his request for random testing, for now, only applies to his upcoming bout.
"As far as saying that I'm sure I've fought other guys in the past on steroids, I think it's pretty well-documented," Jones said. "A lot of people haven't really argued with it because they know it's a true statement. I know it's a true statement."
Jones said he contacted UFC president Dana White prior to submitting his request for random testing in Maryland. According to Jones, White encouraged him to take the issue directly to the commission and not to a third-party testing organization.
Late last year, former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre advocated to include the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in the drug testing leading up to a title fight against Johny Hendricks on Nov. 16 in Las Vegas. The two sides were unable to come to an agreement and St-Pierre eventually joined the VADA program solo.
Based on that disagreement, White advised Jones to include the MSAC in his request.
"I called Dana White and said, 'Hey, I want Glover to take steroid tests for this fight,' " Jones said. "He asked me, 'What, you think he's on steroids?' I told him I don't know and I have no reason to accuse him of anything but I would like to be sure.
"Dana told me how the Georges and Johny Hendricks thing became one big cluster because Georges wanted Johny to be tested by a certain company. He recommended I not go that way and talk to the commission directly so I said, 'OK.' "
State athletic commissions have the authority to randomly test licensed athletes, although the process has been rare in combat sports due to limited budgeting. The UFC agreed to handle all the costs associated with the Jones, Teixeira testing.
