Conor McGregor nonetheless hasn’t re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program to endure the six months of required drug testing earlier than he competes once more.
That’s based on UFC President Dana White, who confirmed the information throughout an interview with TSN on Thursday. White added the promotion needs to ebook McGregor earlier than the tip of 2023. McGregor has been hooked up to a matchup in opposition to fellow Final Fighter 31 coach Michael Chandler, however there’s been no date introduced for the proposed battle.
“He’s not [back in the USADA testing pool],” White mentioned. “one hundred pc [there’s a chance Conor McGregor fights this year].”
In Could, United States Anti-Doping Company officers confirmed that contact was made with McGregor’s workforce about getting him again within the drug testing pool, which is required for all UFC athletes. McGregor exited the UFC’s anti-doping program someday after he suffered a damaged leg throughout his battle with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Regardless of that dialog, it seems that McGregor by no means truly re-entered the drug testing pool. Although he mentioned in Could that he’d resolved his points with USADA, he nonetheless has not been submitted to rejoin the UFC’s anti-doping program.
Beneath present USADA guidelines, all athletes getting back from retirement – technically McGregor’s standing since he left the anti-doping program whereas nonetheless remaining below UFC contract – should endure six months of drug testing and submit a minimal of two unfavorable samples earlier than being allowed to compete.
With the calendar already in July that will prohibit McGregor from combating in 2023 – except he’s given an exemption, which is allowed below the UFC’s anti-doping program.
The best profile instance of that was at UFC 200 in 2016, when Brock Lesnar was granted an exemption to compete on the cardboard. He then examined constructive for a banned substance, which overturned his win in opposition to Mark Hunt to a no-contest. He was later suspended for one yr by USADA.
It stays to be seen what’s going to occur with McGregor, although White doesn’t appear too involved with that proper now and not using a battle truly booked.
“We’ll see how that performs out,” White mentioned. “They’re saying that now, however who is aware of. I don’t speak about s*** till s*** occurs. To take a seat right here and suppose hypothetically how 1,000,000 various things may occur, no concept. I’m centered on what’s taking place this Saturday, after which subsequent Saturday. UFC 300 isn’t even in my thoughts proper now.
“The Conor factor, who the hell is aware of how that’s going to play out – who cares what USADA says, we’ll see what occurs when it occurs so I don’t know.”
A number of messages in search of remark from USADA haven’t been returned.
Whereas there’s nonetheless no definitive phrase on McGregor’s subsequent battle, he did get right into a bodily altercation with Chandler throughout filming of the truth present. The episode with the altercation aired on Tuesday.
The incident occurred after Chandler’s workforce remained undefeated for the season with Kurt Holobaugh eradicated McGregor’s teammate Lee Hammond. McGregor then erupted and shoved Chandler, which led to White dashing round to get within the cage to cease the altercation from getting even worse.
“It began escalating, and no person was getting in the midst of it,” White mentioned. “So I noticed that I needed to do it. Not good. As a result of what individuals don’t perceive after they see stuff like that occur, and so they’re like ‘Oh they like it!’ The fee doesn’t like it, and it’s dangerous when that stuff occurs.
“It’s a ache within the ass for us, and it may well mess a variety of issues up. So that may by no means occur. I used to be ready for someone to leap in, and so they didn’t, and as an alternative of leaping in, it truly began to escalate, so not good.”
