UFC president Dana White has confirmed Conor McGregor is not currently in the USADA drug testing pool.
The former two-division UFC champion has been on the sidelines after suffering a horrific leg break injury in his last outing against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in Jul. 2021. While in recovery, McGregor bagged his first role in Hollywood for the upcoming reboot of the 1989 cult classic Road House, leading to further doubt about when he would possibly come back to fighting.
Dana White confirms Conor McGregor is out of the USADA testing pool
Last month, Aaron Bronsteter of TSN Sports scrutinized the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) public database for McGregor’s drug testing history and reported that he was the only fighter on the UFC roster who hadn’t been tested in 2022. With the added information of his lack of drug testing, there was speculation about McGregor’s return to fighting after he got the movie deal.
At the UFC 280 post-fight press conference, White got asked about the status of McGregor’s likely comeback. When asked whether ‘The Notorious’ would need to spend 6 months in the pool before he would be eligible to take to the octagon, White answered in the affirmative.
“Speaking of USADA, it appears on the database that Conor McGregor hasn’t been tested this year,” she said. “Would he have to complete six months before he could compete?”
“Yeah,” White replied.
“So he can’t return until six months?” she followed up.
“Right,” White said.
Dana White confirms Conor McGregor can't return until he completes 6 months in the USADA testing pool.#UFC280 pic.twitter.com/5Kc1GoO77m
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 22, 2022
McGregor believes he has the tools to be the UFC champion again
Islam Makhachev dominated Charles Oliveira in the headlining bout of the card to become the new UFC 155-pound champion. Following the main event, McGregor took to his Twitter to share his thoughts in a now-deleted tweet, claiming he had the style to defeat Makhachev.
“Nice fight, nice performance. I have the tools to beat this style now vs. before. Experience vs s***. Face breaking shots from clinch and baby brain batter shots from bottom. And the rest of my repertoire yous know. Steel left leg. Cannon back hand. Wrist control.”
McGregor has reportedly bulked up while away from fighting. He will likely have a harder time cutting back down to 155 pounds and has expressed a desire to come back and compete at welterweight. Either way, he would need to get back in the testing pool first and then spend six months in it before he is allowed to fight again.
