Conor McGregor accepts 18-month UFC suspension for anti-doping violations

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The UFC introduced that Conor McGregor has accepted a prolonged interval of ineligibility for violating the corporate’s anti-doping coverage.

McGregor accepted a suspension of 18 months after lacking three tried "organic pattern collections inside a 12-month interval in 2024," which is a violation of the anti-doping coverage.

"UFC athletes are required to supply correct whereabouts data always, to allow them to be contacted and undergo organic pattern collections with out prior warning," the UFC mentioned. "McGregor’s missed exams occurred on June 13, Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, 2024, and have been every labeled as ‘Whereabouts Failures’ by the CSAD (Fight Sports activities Anti-Doping) underneath the UFC ADP."

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Conor McGregor leaving Blanchardstown Court docket, Dublin, the place he's charged with harmful driving in relation to an incident in west Dublin in March 2022. (Brian Lawless/PA Photographs through Getty Photographs)

McGregor was initially set to be suspended for twenty-four months, although cooperation with the corporate led to a diminished suspension, in response to the press launch.

"Though McGregor did not make himself accessible for testing on these dates, CSAD famous that he was recovering from an damage and was not making ready for an upcoming battle on the time of the three missed exams. McGregor absolutely cooperated with CSAD’s investigation, accepted duty, and offered detailed data that CSAD decided contributed to the missed exams.

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"Regardless of these mitigating components, CSAD emphasizes that correct whereabouts filings and the power to conduct unannounced testing are important to the success of the UFC ADP. Taking McGregor’s cooperation and circumstances under consideration, CSAD diminished the usual 24-month sanction for 3 whereabouts failures by six months."

McGregor’s suspension is retroactive to the date of his last missed take a look at, which implies he's eligible to return to competitors in March 2026 — three months earlier than the potential White Home battle card that he has publicly mentioned he needs to battle in.

Conor McGregor of Eire prepares to battle Dustin Poirier in the course of the UFC 264 occasion at T-Cellular Area on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

President Donald Trump introduced that the White Home card, the place the UFC will host an occasion on the storied landmark’s well-known garden, will happen in June 2026 to commemorate the 250th birthday of america.

Whereas McGregor mentioned that it was a "executed deal" he can be returning to the octagon for that extremely anticipated occasion, UFC CEO Dana White shot it down after UFC 320 this previous Saturday.

"I made it clear Conor desires to battle on that card, and you may clearly see Conor could be very fired as much as battle on that card," White mentioned, per Yahoo Sports activities. "However nothing is completed but, and no fights are being negotiated with the White Home."

White promised that it could be "the best battle card ever assembled" for the White Home occasion.

UFC star Conor McGregor was suspended 18 months by the corporate for violating its Anti-Doping guidelines. (AP Picture/John Locher, File)

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McGregor has not fought since July 2021, when he misplaced to Dustin Poirier within the third chapter of their rivalry. He was beforehand scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, however he broke his pinky toe on June 13 of that yr, which is the primary failed take a look at date within the UFC launch.