Olympic gold medalist and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson, who is mentored by Jon Jones, was arrested in June 2019 along with a teammate on accusations of group sexual assault involving the use of a foreign object. The accuser went to the hospital the night of the alleged incident and immediately filed charges. Very little information about the case is publicly available. The charges were ultimately dropped due to a legal loophole that prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol the evening of the incident. There were no witnesses other than the accuser and the two members of the wrestling team, and the accounts of both sides contradicted each other. No direct evidence of Steveson's guilt was established, but the law was changed after this case so that victim testimony is now considered by the court under any circumstances.
Olympic gold medalist and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson was arrested in June 2019, alongside a teammate, on accusations of group sexual assault involving the use of a foreign object — an allegation that surfaced during the same period he was competing at the elite level of amateur wrestling.
According to the account, the accuser sought hospital treatment on the night of the alleged incident and filed charges immediately. The case ultimately did not proceed to conviction. Charges were dropped due to a legal loophole that barred the victim's testimony from being admitted in court because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol that evening. No witnesses beyond the accuser and the two wrestlers were present, and the accounts given by each side directly contradicted one another. No direct evidence establishing Steveson's guilt was produced at the time.
The case did, however, prompt a change in the law. Following this incident, legislation was amended so that victim testimony is now admissible in court regardless of whether alcohol was voluntarily consumed.
Steveson has since transitioned to mixed martial arts and is associated with Jon Jones, the longtime UFC heavyweight champion. Jones, 38, carries a professional record of 28-1-0 and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport's history. He has served in a mentorship role for Steveson as the wrestler moves toward a professional MMA career.
Why it matters
- The allegations date to 2019 but are only now drawing wider attention as Steveson enters the UFC spotlight
- Charges were dismissed on procedural grounds, not based on a finding of innocence, and the relevant law has since been changed
- Steveson's connection to Jones means the story carries additional visibility within the MMA community
- The case raises questions about the vetting process for high-profile combat sports prospects entering the UFC roster
