Overview
- A recent New York Times investigation reported that Conor McGregor used powerful, banned substances during his 2021 recovery from a catastrophic leg break and sought a therapeutic use exemption from the anti‑doping authorities.
- McGregor called the disclosure of his medical records “shocking,” stopped short of admitting drug use, said he removed himself from testing to follow doctors’ orders, and noted he has been extensively tested since re‑entering the testing pool.
- The UFC issued a formal denial that McGregor’s case drove its split from USADA, said internal discussions about leaving USADA began earlier, and stated McGregor was tested 19 times over two years including many tests in 2026.
- McGregor previously served an 18‑month retroactive suspension that ended in March for repeated whereabouts failures rather than for a positive drug test, and he remains scheduled to headline UFC 329 against Max Holloway on July 11 in Las Vegas.
- The dispute has focused attention on how therapeutic use exemptions are handled, the limits of athlete medical privacy, and how the UFC’s move away from USADA to other testing partners could affect anti‑doping transparency and fighter safety.