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The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the UFC are ending their agreement for drug testing of MMA athletes, USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement Wednesday. The decision comes as a result of the MMA promotion and the drug testing agency arguing over whether superstar Conor McGregor should be able to return to the octagon from an injury without the six months of drug testing generally required by USADA.
McGregor (22-6), a former two-division champion, has not fought since breaking his left leg in the first round against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. With no fight on the horizon as he recovered from injury, McGregor left USADA’s testing pool and has not submitted any tests since the third quarter of 2021, according to the agency’s athlete database.
McGregor, in a social media post Wednesday, showed a screenshot from USADA indicating he had reentered the pool.
“Dear Conor McGregor,” the letter read, “the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) would like to take a moment to welcome you back as a member of the UFC Registered Testing Pool (RTP).”
According to the UFC’s anti-doping policy, fighters must complete six months of testing by USADA before returning to competition. That would mean that McGregor could not fight until April at the earliest.
There is, however, an exception the UFC can use that would allow McGregor to fight prior to the six-month requirement if he submits two negative drug tests.
Tygart acknowledged Wednesday that McGregor had re-entered the testing pool, but said USADA had been “clear and firm” that McGregor should not get an exception to fight in less than six months. Tygart said that USADA told UFC that granting one would mean the end of their relationship for drug testing.
“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honor the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program,” Tygart said. “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.”
McGregor, who last won a fight in January 2020, is expected to fight former lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler when he returns.
Tygart said the relationship with the UFC had become “untenable.”
The UFC and USADA first made their deal in 2015, giving the sport its first anti-doping program using an independent agency.
