Conor McGregor, a former UFC champion, made a comeback, which sparked a disagreement between the organisation and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which had been testing the league’s mixed martial artists for the previous eight years.
The 35-year-old fighter must complete this phase before entering the octagon for the first time since suffering a leg injury in July 2021, which he confirmed on social media this week. Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor were supposed to square off in December, but the testing regulations have caused the date to change.
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Conor McGregor’s Return Causes Split Between UFC And USADA
Any athlete who has taken a break from competition is required by USADA to submit to testing for six months and to provide at least two negative tests before coming back.
USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement on Wednesday that the organisation had been “clear and firm” about those conditions pertaining to McGregor, who claimed on social media over the summer that the testing regulations prevented him from competing. “I feel like I’m being kept from my livelihood, and I’ve been feeling this for years.”
UFC declined MMA Fighting’s request for comment on this news right away.
A poor relationship between USADA and the UFC, according to Tygart, is mostly a result of the circumstances surrounding McGregor, who left the anti-doping programme after breaking his leg during his previous match against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Since then, McGregor has hinted at plans to rejoin the UFC anti-doping programme. However, in accordance with USADA regulations, he must wait six months before being able to compete again unless an exemption is granted.
USADA CEO Travis said, “ USADA is proud of the work we’ve done over the past eight years to clean up the UFC, and we will continue to provide our unparalleled service to UFC athletes through the remainder of our current contract, which ends December 31, 2023. As always, we will continue to uphold the rights and voices of clean athletes in all sport.”
The UFC and USADA began collaborating to manage the anti-doping programme for the promotion in 2015. Throughout the 8 years of partnership, 27,000 tests were administered by USADA across the UFC roster.
