Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor Blamed for USADA-UFC Partnership Breakdown as Dana White and Co. End Almost a Decade Old Partnership With Testing Body- “No Longer Be Involved”

Conor McGregor has submitted his samples to the USADA but the tables have turned now. The fighter earlier confirmed through his social media handles that his samples had been sent in. However, for him to fight, the USADA needs to test them for a period of six months or more. This may not have sat well with Dana White and Co.

Recently, USADA CEO Travis Tygart put out a statement regarding the organization’s exit from all UFC affairs. This means that the fighter’s samples come under complicated circumstances once again. They cannot be tested for six months so, what’s going to happen with McGregor? Will he just roam around and throw punches in the cage untested? Here’s the story.

Conor McGregor won’t have his samples thoroughly checked

As indicated by USADA earlier, every fighter has to return at least two negative tests upon testing. However, that is a process that can take at least six months to complete. McGregor’s fight with Michael Chandler has now built up hype for the better part of the year and looks like it’s gotten Dana White impatient.

“We can confirm that Conor McGregor has re-entered the USADA testing pool as of Sunday, October 8, 2023,” Tygart wrote in his statement. “We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months. The rules also allow USADA to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.”

The declaration outlines how McGregor’s declarations about any sort of PED use during his off-time can lead to a longer waiting period. By then, perhaps even the hype could die out. Was this the reason the UFC decided to sever ties?

“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.”

So even after his sample submission, there’s no guarantee that it will go through the whole process. This means the USADA can’t clear McGregor to fight in the given timeframe because the timeframe has been thrown out of the window. As soon as 2024 clocks in, McGregor will be free as a bird without USADA’s looming threat over his head.

Were there talks about a renewed contract?

Initially, yes. The USADA hoped to renew the contract with the UFC for a longer partnership. However, in spite of a positively decided renewal in May 2023, the UFC stepped back. Dana White and Co. decided to change their minds and the McGregor situation could be the reason why.

“. . . the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.” The statement read. “. . . One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC program since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the Octagon.”

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Tygart is clearly referring to Joe Rogan here who asked the USADA “let him (McGregor) do everything”. Some fans are concerned that this adamant support can lead to abuse of PEDs. All the changes including their break-away from USADA and the UFC 294 card changes have shocked the fandom too. At a time like this, what new surprising move from Dana White will leave everyone stunned? What are your predictions?

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