UFC 200: Jon Jones breaks down in tears as he apologises for drugs violation - but denies doping

A distraught Jon Jones has denied intentionally taking performance enhancing drugs.

The UFC interim light heavyweight champion was pulled from his UFC 200 fight against Daniel Cormier due to a drug test violation just three days before Saturday's (9 July) showpiece card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 28-year-old is being investigated by the US Anti-Doping Authority (USADA) and faces the possibility of a two-year ban after testing positive for a banned metabolite.

In a hastily arranged press conference, Jones said: "The whole situation sucks. It really sucks. It really hurts, a lot. Supposedly they found something in sample and I have no idea what it is, I don't even know how to pronounce it.

"I've been taking the same supplements the majority of my career and I've been so outspoken against any kind of performance enhancer. Being labelled a cheat hurts me more than anything else I've been through in my career."

A visibly upset Jones left the press conference briefly, with manager Malki Kawa explaining his camp are awaiting a results of B sample – which was provided immediately after last night's news. Kawa added he was "1000% sure" Jones did not intentionally take any performance enhancers.

Upon his return to the stage, Jones broke down in tears as he addressed the assembled press. "I have to reclimb a ladder. I believe something good will come from this, but right now it's hard to see it."

Jones insisted there had been no new supplements introduced during his training regime for the Cormier fight.

"There are few things that have nothing to do with performance that I've tried. Whatever it is, I can't even pronounce it, I've never even heard of it. I'm just learning about it myself. Right now I'm going through every single thing I've taken leading up to the fight and we are going through the process of getting everything out and seeing where it came from."