Dana White responds to Jon Jones' claim that UFC knew about Vitor Belfort's PED use

Dana White commented on the Vitor Belfort sketchy drug test in 2012 for the first time Thursday.

Deadspin reported in September that Belfort had high levels of testosterone before a fight with Jon Jones at UFC 152 in September 2013 and the UFC knew about it, letting the fight go on anyway.

Jones accused the UFC of having knowledge about Belfort's alleged performance-enhancing drug use in an interview last week with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.

White denied those allegations on "Off The Record" with Michael Landsberg on Thursday. Landsberg asked White if Jones' claim that the UFC knew about Belfort's steroid use was true.

"No," White said. "We didn't know that. Was Jon Jones in our offices? Listen, Jon Jones is somebody who shouldn't be talking about other people's tests and what they're doing."

Jones failed an out-of-competition drug test for cocaine metabolites back in January and the Nevada Athletic Commission released the results. However, the former UFC light heavyweight champion should not have been tested for recreational drugs at that time, since they are not prohibited out of competition.

In the interview with Helwani, Jones said he it was a "slap in the face" that, in his view, the UFC knew about Belfort's drug test and still let the fight happen.

"I totally understand what happened," Jones said. "Vitor Belfort was on steroids when I fought him. The UFC was very well aware way before the fight. They did nothing to penalize him. They let the fight go on knowing that I was fighting a guy on steroids, which is a hazard to my life."

UFC senior vice president of public relations Dave Sholler said in October that any suggestion of a UFC cover-up is "categorically false." Belfort, at the time, was a legal user of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which has now been banned. However, even on TRT, a fighter with elevated levels would at least raise red flags.

"That period of time with TRT is one that was tricky for everyone: For the UFC, for athletic commissions, and for athletes alike," Sholler said. "I think when everyone came to a conclusion it didn't have a place in the sport and was outlawed in 2014, we were quick to make sure that we too followed suit, as Nevada has said."

Landsberg broached the subject of Jones saying the UFC knew Belfort was on steroids to White.

"Jones said that?" White said. "How would Jones know that?"