“Disappointed for UFC Athletes”- Conor McGregor Wins USADA Battle as CEO Breaks Silence After 8-Year Partnership With Dana White and Co. To End in 2024

Conor McGregor has stirred things up whether he wanted to or not. The fighter was on terrible terms with the USADA, the drug testing agency that has been ensuring that fighters remain clean and safe making the fights fair for about eight years now. And now it seems that the ‘Mystic Mac’ and his remarks bled into the relationship between USADA and the UFC.

No more USADA tests for UFC fighters! The United States Anti-Doping Agency has decided to end its nearly decade-long relationship with Dana White and Co. This move comes after the many controversies about McGregor’s return to the cage. The USADA CEO opened up about their move in a recent statement he made.

USADA CEO calls it quits with Dana White and Co. after the ‘Conor McGregor’ fiasco

Conor McGregor was rumored to fight Michael Chandler this year. ‘The Notorious’ had broken his shin in his earlier fight against Dustin Poirier and was forced to go on a break. After recovering, he was ready and raring to fight but there was just one big problem. The USADA stood in McGregor’s way.

According to the USADA, McGregor could not be allowed to fight without at least six months of testing. That barred him from stepping inside the Octagon this year. However, now McGregor has submitted his samples and is in the testing pool. But his controversial moves along with White wanting the fight to happen soon made things bitter between the UFC and USADA CEO Travis Tygart.

“…as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program,” Tygart dropped a bombshell in his recent statement. “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,” he said later in his statement.

McGregor had verbally assaulted USADA before in since-deleted tweets calling it a “garbage organization” for not trusting him after he had returned “70 clean tests” during his career. Clearly, the fighter has a fight to pick, and looks like Dana White was on his side this time around.

Dana White and Co. may take a path away from the USADA

The UFC has a contract with the USADA that will last them the remainder of this year. That is, the UFC and USADA will keep together until January 2024. After that, Dana White and Co. may decide to go with a different agency altogether. Even USADA’s move came to light, thanks to the comments of UFC insiders.

“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months.”

Also Read: “Notorious Is Back”- Conor McGregor Officially Ends His USADA War With Proof as UFC World Goes Into a Meltdown

Tygart has made it clear that things are ending. There is no clear indication of where the companies will go once their partnership has ended. However, it looks like McGregor’s tests may suffer. Since the testing pool lasts about six months, the USADA may lose the incentive to keep testing McGregor’s samples after their contract ends.

So is ‘The Notorious’ expecting more trouble before his alleged UFC 300 bout? We’ll know as the year nears its end. Till then, keep an eye on this space!

Watch This Story: Michael Chandler Also Drops Major USADA Update After Conor McGregor