'I'm obviously not on them because I lost': Team GB's Jade Jones denies doping claims

9 August 2024, 14:07

Team GB taekwondo star Jade Jones has denied doping claims after crashing out in the first round of the Olympics.
Team GB taekwondo star Jade Jones has denied doping claims after crashing out in the first round of the Olympics. Picture: Getty

By Lauren Lewis

Team GB taekwondo star Jade Jones has denied doping claims after crashing out in the first round of the Olympics.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The two-time Olympic gold medalist missed a drug test in December but managed to avoid sanctions.

Jones, 31, addressed the missed test after her elimination was confirmed, admitting: "I made a mistake.

"They (the drug testers) came on dehydration day, I wasn't in the right mind, I was lucky they looked into it and it all got sorted and proven I was innocent.

"I can confirm that I've never taken drugs. I've done hundreds of tests and since then I've done 13 more tests - more than ever."

Ukad, the UK Anti-Doping Agency, ruled that Jones bore "no fault or negligence for the missed test" due to "loss of cognitive capacity".

In most serious cases athletes can be banned from competing for four years for refusing a drug test.

Jones was beaten in her opening bout of the women's -57kg taekwondo competition in Paris after a narrow defeat to Miljana Reljikj of North Macedonia.

Jones was beaten in her opening bout of the women's -57kg taekwondo competition in Paris after a narrow defeat to Miljana Reljikj of North Macedonia.
Jones was beaten in her opening bout of the women's -57kg taekwondo competition in Paris after a narrow defeat to Miljana Reljikj of North Macedonia. Picture: Getty

Read more: Medal hopeful Johnson-Thompson in action on day 14 of Paris Games after Aldridge secures Team GB's 13th gold

The missed test arose when a Ukad official arrived at Jones' hotel room in Manchester on December 1 to request a sample.

Jones reportedly told the official she was undergoing dehydration training before a weigh-in and had not eaten or drank since November 29.

She signed a document saying she could provide a sample for this reason but provided a clean sample to a different official 12 hours later.

Refusing a drug test is counted as a failed test under Ukad and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) regulations, but Jones said she was not aware of these rules.

She said: "I didn’t know what I was signing,

"The drug test has come on dehydration day. You’re losing the weight and you haven’t eaten or drank for a few days...

"There was a lot of stress and I was waiting. I needed to dehydrate. I became stressed, I wasn’t in the right mind. I thought you could miss three."

Read more: Lin Yu-ting secures place in Olympic women's featherweight final amid ongoing gender controversy row

Jade Jones said she was devastated after losing her first round bout at the Paris Olympics
Jade Jones said she was devastated after losing her first round bout at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Getty

Speaking after losing the first round bout yesterday, Jones said: "I’m devastated. I came here to win, I thought I could win, and on the day I didn’t have the balls that it took and that made the difference.

“I’m super proud of having the courage to try to do something that no one’s done.

"The more you win, the harder it gets, the pressure, the mental side. It’s tough. I came out today and didn’t have the balls to fight free and let my legs go and I’m just gutted that I didn’t show what I am capable of."

Asked whether she would continue competing, Jones said: "I don’t know. Anything I do I commit 100%. So I’ll just go back and see my family and see what happens."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Universal has confirmed it's opening its first European theme park in Bedfordshire

Universal theme park set to open in Bedfordshire in 2031 in multi-billion pound boost for economy

Serial Killer Conviction Prompts Police To Warn Of Dating App Dangers

Paedophiles targeting single mums on dating apps in order to exploit their children

Exclusive
Sir Steve Redgrave has called for an urgent cleanup of the River Thames

Sir Steve Redgrave calls for clean-up of River Thames ahead of Oxford-Cambridge boat race

Glenn Armstrong bombarded the woman with unwanted messages prior to breaking into her Spennymoor home at around 4am on Thursday, January 2.

Stalker who bombarded ex with messages jailed for breaking into her home - after police find him at top of stairs with knife

Barry Dawson, 60, was killed after being shot through his front window, police have said

'Popular' County Durham dad, 60, was 'shot through his front window', police confirm

Esme Baker, 10, and her father, Lee Baker, 48, were killed in the fire

Fire at caravan park that killed father, 48, and daughter, 10, was 'accidental', investigation finds

Gladiators star Zack George, known as Steel, has revealed that his baby son has died.

Gladiators star reveals heartbreaking loss as baby boy dies days after being born prematurely

Boy, 15, and girl, 13, guilty of manslaughter following the death of Leicester pensioner Bhim Kohli

Bhim Kohli's teenage killers 'humiliated' pensioner in 'brutal and cruel' attack, says heartbroken daughter

Close up of a Police logo on a police officers uniform in Leeds,WEst Yorkshire,UK

Norwegian teenager arrested after being caught with guns in Yorkshire hotel room

x

UK should not 'jump in with both feet' to retaliate against Trump trade tariffs, PM urges

Wahib

'Jealous and controlling husband' who tried to cut wife's head off before leaving her to bleed to death jailed for life

Ashbourne Derbyshire England UK.

Two dead after aircraft crash in Derbyshire, as police tell public to avoid the area

The Government must “invest in childhood” or risk losing the next generation to poor mental health, a charity has warned.

Invest in childhood ‘or risk losing a generation to poor mental health’, charity warns

US-ECONOMY-MARKET-STOCKS

Relief for financial markets as stocks rebound from historic losses days on from tariff turmoil

XL Bullies Being Walked On Private Land After Ban

XL Bully mauled two people after being ordered to ‘kill’ by owner as victims left with 'horrific injuries'

Kerri Pegg, former governor of HMP Kirkham,

Prison governor guilty of misconduct after relationship with drug boss 'Jesse Pinkman' who gifted her £12k Mercedes