Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has accepted an 18-month suspension for breaching the UFC’s anti-doping policy, the organization confirmed on Monday.
The ban follows McGregor’s failure to comply with Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) testing requirements, after missing three biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024. Under UFC regulations, all athletes are required to submit accurate whereabouts information to ensure they can be tested without prior notice.
According to CSAD, McGregor missed scheduled tests on June 13, September 19, and September 20, 2024. The body noted that the 37-year-old’s suspension was reduced from 24 months to 18 months, taking into account his cooperation and the injury circumstances that had sidelined him from competition.
“McGregor accepted responsibility and provided detailed information that CSAD determined contributed to the missed tests,” the UFC said in an official statement.
The suspension is retroactive to September 20, 2024—the date of his third missed test—and will run until March 20, 2026, just four months before McGregor turns 39.
The former two-division champion has not competed professionally since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg during his fight with Dustin Poirier.
Recently, McGregor claimed he had signed to fight on a “UFC White House card” scheduled for June 14, 2026, coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. However, UFC president Dana White swiftly refuted the claim, stating that no such agreement had been reached.
“Conor wants to fight on that card, and he’s clearly fired up about it, but nothing is final,” White clarified.
McGregor, who has often drawn headlines outside the octagon, announced this week that he would be taking a break from social media.
In addition to his sporting troubles, the Irish fighter is facing legal challenges. In November 2024, he was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages and costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of sexual assault in a Dublin hotel in 2018. Ms. Hand has also filed a separate lawsuit alleging malicious abuse of court processes by McGregor and two others.
McGregor, who had previously expressed interest in contesting the Irish presidential election, confirmed last month that he has withdrawn from the race.
The suspension means the former UFC champion will be ineligible to compete until spring 2026, leaving his highly anticipated return to the octagon uncertain.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@wesleyannews.com
