Is USADA separating from UFC after disagreements over Conor McGregor’s return? Investigating the real cause

UFC and USADA have been partners for over 8 years. The United States Anti-Doping Agency has been responsible for cleaning up the MMA promotion’s fighters for many years, and there are speculations that USADA won’t continue to do so.

After long absence from the sport, Conor McGregor has re-entered the USADA testing pool and it seems that USADA might be separating themselves from the UFC due to disagreements over McGregor’s return.

Is USADA parting ways with UFC?

The United States Anti-Doping Agency will no longer oversee the UFC’s anti-doping program once its current contract expires at the end of 2023. The news was announced with a statement from USADA CEO Travis Tygart after confirming Conor McGregor had officially re-entered the drug testing pool following a long absence from the program.

Tygart claims that talks were ongoing for an extension between USADA and the UFC until it broke down. The Ultimate Fighting Championship then opted to end the partnership from 2024.

Tygart continued to explain that the USADA has been clear and firm since the beginning and that there won’t be any exceptions by the MMA promotion for McGregor to fight until he gets two negative tests.

Is USADA and UFC beefing due to Conor McGregor?

When an MMA fighter leaves the USADA testing pool, upon re-entering the pool, he or she is required to have 2 consecutive negative banned substance tests and remain in the pool for a tenure of at least 6 months. However, Mystic Mac seems to be an exception in the UFC. He left the testing pool back in 2021 after suffering a leg injury against Dustin Poirier.

Travis Tygart pointed at a strained relationship between USADA and the UFC, largely due to the situation surrounding McGregor. In his official statement USADA CEO said that the doping agency is disappointed for UFC athletes. Tygart continued to say that the fighters are independent contractors who rely on USADA to protect their rights of a clean and a fair fight in the octagon.

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

USADA will continue to provide gold standard doping tests until December 31, 2023, as per their contract. However, the doping agency won’t continue its partnership with the MMA promotion starting from January 1, 2024. Share your thoughts in the comments about the UFC parting ways with USADA. Also, let us know if you think it’s fair to make an exception