USADA CONFIRMS CONOR MCGREGOR HAS RE-ENTERED TESTING POOL AS HE PREPARES FOR UFC RETURN

Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback moved a step closer with confirmation that he has re-entered the USADA testing pool. The Irishman has been out of action since 2021 but could yet return to the octagon in 2023, after USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart questioned whether the UFC would follow the anti-doping agency’s protocols after talks over a contract renewal broke down.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has confirmed that Conor McGregor has re-entered the testing pool as he nears another UFC comeback.

The Irishman hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in July of 2021 but appeared as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter alongside fellow lightweight contender Michael Chandler.

That put McGregor on a collision course with the American, subject to the former two-weight world champion being cleared by USADA.

USADA requires athletes to be in the testing pool for at least six months and return two negative tests to compete.

Travis T. Tygart, CEO of the organisation, said that McGregor’s official date of re-entry was October 8, putting a 2023 comeback in jeopardy.

However, in an official statement released by USADA, Tygart also confirmed that its relationship with the UFC was coming to an end.

“We can confirm that Conor McGregor has re-entered the USADA testing pool as of Sunday, October 8, 2023,” Tygart began in a statement.

“We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months.

“The rules also allow USADA to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.

“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honour the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program.

“Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.”

Tygart added that he was “disappointed for UFC athletes who rely on our independent, gold-standard global programme to protect their rights to a clean, safe and fair octagon” and also hit out at UFC bosses for potentially endangering the health of fighters.

“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months,” the statement continued.

“One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC programme since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the octagon.”“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honour the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program.“Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.”

Tygart added that he was “disappointed for UFC athletes who rely on our independent, gold-standard global programme to protect their rights to a clean, safe and fair octagon” and also hit out at UFC bosses for potentially endangering the health of fighters.“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months,” the statement continued.“One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC programme since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the octagon.”

“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honour the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program.

“Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.”

Tygart added that he was “disappointed for UFC athletes who rely on our independent, gold-standard global programme to protect their rights to a clean, safe and fair octagon” and also hit out at UFC bosses for potentially endangering the health of fighters.

“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months,” the statement continued.

“One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC programme since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the octagon.”