Two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones crashes OUT of her opening taekwondo round of 16 tie – three years on from Team GB star’s first-round defeat in Tokyo

Team GB’s Jade Jones failed to progress through the round of 16 in the women’s taekwondo 57kg event, after gearing up to challenge for an unprecedented third gold following wins at the London and Rio Olympics. 

The 31-year-old had her heart broken by North Macedonia’s Miljana Reljikj in a cagey affair, her opponent taking the first round 7-6 with a well-timed head shot moments before time. 

But Jones clawed her way back in the second round, carrying it 5-4 by the finest of margins. 

The Croatia-based British athlete held firm in the scrappy third and deciding round, but was ultimated devasted in Paris three years on from being knocked out in the opening round in Tokyo – after a 1-1 finish saw the referee award Reljikj the victory. 

Jones’ inclusion in Britain’s Olympic team had raised eyebrows in some quarters after she was provisionally suspended by the UK Anti-Doping Agency earlier this year after refusing to provide a urine sample to drug testers in December 2023.

The Team GB star was keen to make history and become the first athlete to win three golds in the sport

But North Macedonia’s Miljana Reljikj held Jones’ feet to the fire and was able to see out the tie

Jones, who tested negative later that day, escaped further punishment following an investigation which found she ‘bore no fault or negligence for her refusal to submit to sample collection’. 

UKAD said they were satisfied to clear the 31-year-old on ‘very exceptional circumstances’, based on confidential medical records, with her lawyer arguing she suffered a ‘loss of cognitive capacity’ when failing to comply with the request. 

Jones could yet return to competition via the repechage to win bronze should Reljikj make the final, but will face a nail-biting wait.