Jon Jones defiant after drug tests forces fight to move

Jon Jones is defiantly defending his role in the decision to move UFC 232 from Nevada to California on six days’ notice after he tested positive for low levels of a banned steroid.

The former light heavyweight champion gave a passionate, occasionally bizarre performance Thursday at a news conference ahead of his title fight against Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Saturday night.

Jones (22-1) expressed regret for the enormous inconveniences caused by his latest failed doping test, which cost the UFC and the card’s other fighters millions in earnings.

But the star-crossed superstar also boorishly berated a reporter asking about his doping history and went on several lengthy rants about the unfairness of the entire situation, suggesting the positive test could have been ignored.

“This probably shouldn’t have even been brought up,” Jones said. “It’s such a small amount that it has no effect. I think the professionals whether it’s Usada or the UFC are realizing, ‘Jon is kind of like a guinea pig in this situation.’ I was almost wronged in this situation. Even though [the substance] was in me, I think this is a way of fixing a wrong and making it right again by not canceling this fight.”

AP