Conor McGregor Confirms UFC Return With Irishman Rejoining Drug Testing Program “Immediately”… And He Reveals When Date For His Fight With Michael Chandler Will Be Announced
- Conor McGregor is expected to rejoin the USADA drug testing program
- The Irishman is scheduled to fight Michael Chandler later this year
- McGregor left the drug testing program after losing to Dustin Poirier in 2021
Conor McGregor has rejoined the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug testing program, paving the way for his return to UFC.
According to a statement from USADA obtained by MMA junkiethe Irishman (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to rejoin the program “immediately.”
McGregor pulled out of the drug testing program in July 2021, when he revealed he was considering retirement after suffering a broken block in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.
‘That’s done, man. That’s done,” he told reporters on Friday when asked if he wanted to rejoin the drug testing program.
“I’ll be back in that cage by the end of the year after competing. I’m preparing now, ready to go,” he said on Friday.
Conor McGregor is about to rejoin the US Anti-Doping Agency’s drug testing program, paving the way for his return to UFC
As a result, the former two-division UFC champion has not undergone anti-doping tests in the past two years.
However, that is expected to change as McGregor will fight Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) later this year.
“We have recently been in direct contact with Conor McGregor, and as he confirmed to the media today, we expect to receive his paperwork once he retires and immediately rejoins USADA’s testing pool,” USADA wrote in a statement.
Like other athletes coming out of retirement, under the UFC anti-doping policy, McGregor will be tested for at least six months and must provide at least two negative samples before being allowed to compete.
“The purpose of this rule is to ensure that all athletes who are not subject to a testing period are adequately tested for a reasonable period of time before competing to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.”
Speak on the The Pat McAfee Show earlier this month, UFC President Dana White announced how McGregor would return to the 155lb division – a weight category where he became the first dual-weight champion in the sport’s history in 2016 when he defeated Eddie Alvarez.
This comes despite McGregor’s hint that he would return to action at the heavier welterweight gold level.
He had insisted that he was desperate to become the sport’s first three-weight champion and had been swelling from injury during his time out.
McGregor has not fought since he suffered a broken leg in the trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021 at UFC 264
The Irishman is scheduled to fight Michael Chandler (above) later this year
Speaking to Matchroom Boxing ahead of Katie Taylor’s blockbuster homecoming fight in Dublin against light welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron, McGregor said he hopes to fight Chandler in December.
Prior to their fight, the pair will be the coaches for Season 32 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a knockout team tournament for young fighters that runs from May 30 to August 15.
And McGregor revealed that a date for his fight with Chandler will be announced at the end of the show.
‘[The fight against] Michael Chandler, will be announced during The Ultimate Fighter.
“The Ultimate Fighter will air on ESPN in a few days, and by the time the show is over, we’ll have a date and it’s set for the fans.”