Gable Steveson, an Olympic champion wrestler and UFC newcomer mentored by Jon Jones, was involved in a 2019 sexual assault case. On June 15, 2019, Steveson and a teammate were arrested and accused of group sexual assault with use of an object while members of the US wrestling team. The victim reported to the hospital and immediately filed charges. The charges were ultimately dropped due to a legal loophole that prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted to the case because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol the night of the alleged incident. Following this case, the law was changed to allow victim testimony under any circumstances. The post notes there were no witnesses besides the victim and the two wrestlers, and their accounts contradicted each other.
A sexual assault case involving Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold-medal wrestler who has been training under UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has resurfaced as Steveson pursues a career in mixed martial arts.
The incident dates to June 15, 2019, when Steveson and a teammate were arrested and accused of group sexual assault with use of an object while both were members of the United States wrestling team. The victim reported to a hospital and filed charges immediately following the alleged incident. However, the case was ultimately dismissed due to a legal loophole that at the time barred the victim's testimony from being admitted as evidence, on the grounds that she had voluntarily consumed alcohol the night of the alleged assault. No other witnesses were present aside from the victim and the two wrestlers, and their accounts of events directly contradicted one another. In the wake of the case, the relevant law was subsequently changed to allow victim testimony under any circumstances, regardless of voluntary alcohol consumption.
Steveson has been publicly linked to Jones, the 38-year-old heavyweight champion who carries a professional MMA record of 28-1-0 and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport's history. Jones, who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, has taken on a mentorship role with the Olympic wrestling standout as Steveson works toward establishing himself in the UFC.
Why it matters
- The case is drawing renewed scrutiny as Steveson's UFC profile rises under the mentorship of a high-profile champion
- Charges were dropped not due to an acquittal or finding of innocence, but because of a procedural legal barrier since removed by lawmakers
- The story raises questions about how combat sports organizations respond to legal histories involving prospects and newcomers
