If you were hoping to see everyone’s favorite/most hated Irish MMA star Conor McGregor UFC octagon return any time soon, you should manage your expectations. USADA is not allowing “the Notorious” to return for at least another six months due to lack of PED testing.
In July of 2021, Conor McGregor suffered a leg break in his trilogy fight against Dustin Porier and hasn’t fought since. Even though there have been rumors lately about a new fight for the once champ-champ, the Conor McGregor UFC return is far from materializing any time soon, as far as USADA is concerned.
Every UFC fighter has to be enrolled in the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) year-round random testing pool in order to be eligible to perform. Fighters looking to come back, either from retirement or long lay-offs have to be in the USADA program for six months before getting the green light to compete.
Unlike most other UFC fighters, McGregor has been out of the testing pool since his loss to Porier. His last testing came right after that fight.
On the subject of a potential Conor McGregor UFC return, the USADA stated that: “the athlete must provide at least two negative samples before returning to competition.”
Reporter Farah Hannoun asked Dane White about the speculated Conor McGregor UFC return during the UFC 280 post-fight press conference.
“Speaking of USADA, it appears on the database that Conor McGregor hasn’t been tested this year,” said Hannoun. “Would he have to complete six months before he could compete?”
“Yeah,” replied White shortly.
The earliest realistic expected date for McGregor’s return is April 2023, but it will most likely take him longer than that. The 34-year-old fighter, who has never failed a drug test before, seems to have recovered from the leg break. It took Beneil Dariush just six months to recover from the same injury, so if Conor agrees to enter the USADA pool, we can expect to have a very healthy version of the Notorious back in the octagon in the first half of 2023.
