In the course of the UFC 286 post-fight press convention, the promotion’s president, Dana White, punted when requested about Conor McGregor’s ongoing battle with america Anti-Doping Company (USADA).
“Have you ever ever heard of (UFC senior VP of athlete well being and efficiency) Jeff Novitzky? Ask him these questions. I don’t give a sh-t about any of that stuff anymore. That’s his downside. I don’t become involved within the drug testing state of affairs in any respect. I do know nothing about it, and I don’t wish to know nothing about it. I depart it to the skilled. He’s the skilled on this factor, and also you guys name him and interview him anytime about it.”
USADA has not examined McGregor for the reason that third quarter of 2021. Additional, as of early February, the previous two-division UFC champion, who reportedly eliminated himself from the USADA testing pool throughout his restoration for the damaged leg he suffered in opposition to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, had but to re-enter that pool.
With McGregor serving as a coach for the upcoming season of “The Final Fighter,” the expectation is he’ll face Michael Chandler, the opposing TUF coach on the conclusion of the truth program’s run.
McGregor thinks he can produce “two clear checks and off I am going.” Then again, USADA made it clear that until the Irish fighter receives a cross from the UFC due to “distinctive circumstances,” he must be within the testing pool for six months earlier than the UFC can guide him for a struggle.
USADA oversees the UFC’s drug testing program.
Bloody Elbow reached out to the UFC — per White’s directions — to get a remark from Novitzky. We requested three questions of the promotion:
Does the UFC have any touch upon the back-and-forth between Mr. McGregor and USADA on social media?
Does the UFC plan to supply Mr. McGregor a USADA testing exemption for “distinctive circumstances,” as USADA stated was the correct of the promotion?
Can the UFC affirm that Mr. McGregor should enter the USADA testing pool for six months earlier than he can compete once more for the UFC?
As of this writing the UFC nor Novitzky have responded.
The latest replace to the USADA athlete testing outcomes web page from March 16, 2023, reveals that McGregor has but to be examined this yr.
