Jon Jones Removed from UFC Rankings, Says 'I Would Never Do Steroids'

In a span of two days, Jon Jones has lost his UFC 214 victory over Daniel Cormier, his light heavyweight title and now, his spot atop the Las Vegas-based promotion’s rankings.

Jones, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol in an-competition urine screening administered on July 28, has been removed from the UFC.com light heavyweight and pound-for-pound rankings. As a result, flyweight ruler Demetrious Johnson takes the top spot in the pound-for-pound poll, while Daniel Cormier is No. 1 in the 205-pound list.

Jones was previously removed from the UFC rankings in 2015 after being arrested in connection to a hit-and-run charge in Albuquerque, N.M. Jones had also been indefinitely suspended and stripped of his title during that timeframe.

On Wednesday, the California State Athletic Commission announced that it would be overturning Jones’ third-round technical knockout victory against Cormier on Aug. 29 to a no contest, and later that day, the UFC reinstated Cormier as light heavyweight champion.

As a second-time offender, Jones could be facing up to a four-year suspension from USADA for using a banned substance. “Bones” will still be able to go through a full review process, and his team could look to prove that the most recent positive test resulted from some type of tainted supplement.

On Thursday, Jones addressed the steroid allegations for the first time via Twitter.

"Dude the truth is I would never do steroids," he wrote. "I put that on my children and I put that on my Heavenly Father."

Dude the truth is I would never do steroids, I put that on my children and I put that on my Heavenly Father https://t.co/i8EEbrQU5x

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) September 14, 2017