It’s been a buzzing week in the UFC with all eyes on the upcoming pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi next Saturday.
But the spotlight shifted to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following a statement from its CEO, Travis Tygart. He confirmed that Conor McGregor, the former two-division UFC champion, has re-entered the testing pool. This comes after a lengthy back-and-forth between McGregor and USADA about whether he had to spend six months in the testing pool before making a return.
This dispute, along with public remarks from Dana White and Joe Rogan, seems to have strained the UFC’s relationship with USADA. Tygart announced that the partnership will come to an end at the beginning of 2024 on Wednesday evening.
USADA and the UFC have been working with one another since 2015, and UFC CEO Dana White has been vocal in saying adding drug testing helped legalize the sport. However, USADA announced that Conor McGregor is back in the testing pool but their partnership is over.
“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. 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,” part of the statement read.
“We are disappointed for UFC athletes, who are independent contractors who rely on our independent, gold-standard global program to protect their rights to a clean, safe, and fair Octagon. The UFC’s move imperils the immense progress made within the sport under USADA’s leadership,” the statement continued.
Naturally, when people heard about McGregor rejoining the testing pool and USADA no longer handling UFC’s anti-doping, it sparked various reactions from fighters, fans, and experts.
UFC fighters react to USADA ending
Man I survived USADA. First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal. Guess what I’m still here, still unbeaten. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I’ve never cheated this sport and I will…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2023
You guys…. did you hear?!? Were all gonna be juiced up soon!!!!!!!! Lmao…. #USADA Any recommendations? I'm kinda new at this….
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 12, 2023
Conor McGregor’s first win in 1,363 days is USADA 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Tb95leDfr8
— Ben Davis (@BenTheBaneDavis) October 11, 2023
I was trying to get that usada jacket tho. Wtf.
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) October 11, 2023
“I was trying to get that usada jacket tho. Wtf.”
Anyone have Brock Lesnar’s #?
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) October 11, 2023
Let me tell you one thing… Usada is only for Americans lol…..
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) October 12, 2023
Good Morning 🧃 pic.twitter.com/s0m09fUPbN
— Matt “The Steamrolla”Frevola (@SteamRollaa) October 12, 2023
No more Usada?
Fighters until December fighters in January pic.twitter.com/euyI3pmDCw— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 11, 2023
Me in January after USADA goes away 👀 pic.twitter.com/auX8CaJcV7
— Chase Hooper (@chase_hooper) October 11, 2023
Damn… they better give me my fucking t-shirt. You’re supposed to get one after you pass 25 tests, and I just did my 23rd one in August. Why else am I peeing in cups for these that dudes show up unannounced at 6 in the morning if I’m not at least getting a t-shirt out of it??? 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/niMVSrzKIX
— Chase Hooper (@chase_hooper) October 11, 2023
Only fighters replay…. If usada is gone… you taking the juice !? Be honest mofo… #usada #ufc
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) October 11, 2023
To no surprise, some UFC fighters had a hilarious reaction to the news that USADA is no longer testing and joked they are starting to take steroids come January. However, some fighters were disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to get the jacket for passing so many tests.
Although USADA is no more, according to reports, the UFC will announce a new drug testing program in the coming days. So, unfortunately for some fans, fighters won’t be able to be on steroids as they joked about on social media.
