USADA to End UFC Partnership in 2024 Over McGregor Situation
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is set to terminate its partnership with the UFC's anti-doping program at the conclusion of their current contract in 2023. The decision, announced by USADA CEO Travis Tygart, came after UFC star Conor McGregor's return to the drug testing pool. Talks for an extension of the partnership between USADA and the UFC broke down, leading to the UFC's decision to discontinue the collaboration in 2024.
Tygart emphasized the strained relationship between USADA and the UFC, primarily attributed to McGregor's situation. McGregor left the anti-doping program after fracturing his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021. While McGregor expressed intentions to re-enter the program, USADA regulations mandated six months of testing before his return, unless an exemption was granted.
Tygart cited an abrupt change of course by the UFC, as they notified USADA on October 9 that they were taking a different direction despite a positive contract renewal meeting in May 2023. USADA is disappointed for the UFC athletes, who rely on their gold-standard global program to ensure a clean, safe, and fair environment in the Octagon.
The relationship's breakdown was largely linked to the UFC's questioning of USADA's firm stance on McGregor not being allowed to fight without fulfilling the six-month testing requirement.
USADA remains committed to upholding clean athletes' rights and voices in sports. The eight-year partnership between USADA and the UFC involved conducting over 27,000 tests across the UFC's roster.