The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is anticipated to part ways with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) due to a disagreement arising from Conor McGregor's involvement.
After experiencing a broken leg in his recent bout against longtime adversary Dustin Poirior in July 2021, McGregor is eager to stage a comeback in the octagon.
USADA announced on Wednesday that the 35-year-old athlete had recently returned to the testing pool. However, due to the UFC terminating its partnership with USADA at the end of the year, it is uncertain whether they can fulfill the mandatory six-month requirement in the pool. USADA CEO Travis Tygart expressed disappointment, stating that despite positive discussions for a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC suddenly changed course and informed USADA on Monday, October 9th, that they were pursuing a different path.
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The UFC continues to maintain connections with Russian fighters and individuals associated with a sanctioned Chechen warlord, even amid the invasion of Ukraine. This decision puts at risk the significant advancements achieved in the sport under the guidance of USADAs, jeopardizing the rights of UFC athletes who depend on our esteemed global program for a clean, secure, and equitable Octagon experience.
CNN has reached out to the UFC and McGregor's representatives for their response.
Last week, McGregor announced on X (previously known as Twitter) that he has re-entered the testing pool. UFC president Dana White confirmed that the necessary paperwork had been submitted to USADA.
As per USADA regulations, McGregor must remain in the pool for a minimum of six months and provide two negative tests before being eligible to fight.
Since 2015, the UFC has been in partnership with USADA, and during this period, the anti-doping organization has performed over 27,000 tests.
Regarding the connection between USADA and the UFC, Tygart mentioned that a UFC commentator had recently expressed a belief that USADA should not be responsible for overseeing the UFC program. The commentator's reasoning behind this statement was that USADA had adhered strictly to the six-month rule pertaining to McGregor, and also because USADA prohibits fighters from using performance-enhancing drugs such as experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing purposes or injuries just to expedite their return to the Octagon.
McGregor currently holds a 22-6 record in the UFC, with his most recent victory achieved in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone. Since then, he has suffered two defeats to Poirier.
As he looks forward to making a comeback to the octagon in the upcoming year, McGregor has been connected to a potential match against American fighter Michael Chandler.
"The fight is undoubtedly still ongoing," Chandler confirmed during an interview with The MMA Hour last week. "Although a specific date and venue have not yet been scheduled for the fight, the match between Chandler and Conor is already set. There is absolutely no scenario in which Conor returns and doesn't face me."
