USADA still has not tested Conor McGregor this year: UFC may grant an exemption

• Sports

Ever since breaking his legs in the trilogy against Dustin Poirier, the famous Irishman has been trying to return to fighting, and on that occasion, he plays with the fans' imagination every now and then by releasing videos from training and sparring.

Despite his inactivity, Conor is ranked as high as 11th in the UFC lightweight rankings, and his return is not expected until next year. Although he currently has no fight scheduled and has not fought in a long time, he is technically still an active UFC fighter, making him subject to USADA's anti-doping testing program like all other fighters.

This begs the question, why didn't USADA test Conor McGregor even once in 2022? TSN's reporter revealed that Conor McGregor, not including several fighters who just signed to the UFC in August (8th month), remains the only fighter from the UFC roster who has not been tested once for doping in 2022.

It is a fact that McGregor is constantly changing locations, mostly for yachting, but it is USADA's job to monitor the location of each fighter and there should not be any exemptions from testing for that reason. Especially due to the fact that doping is mostly used during the recovery of bones and muscles in case of severe fractures.

USADA gave its statement to the media about the whole situation.

"Once UFC athletes are enrolled in the testing program, they are subject to testing – even when not competing – unless they notify the UFC of their retirement, their contract is terminated, or they are otherwise removed from the program,” USADA said in a statement provided to TSN.

“In the event of an athlete's return to the UFC, they are required to remain in the USADA testing pool for six months before they are permitted to compete. Similar to World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the UFC may grant an exemption to the six-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to the athlete, but in both cases under the UFC rules, the athlete must provide at least two negative samples before returning to competition.

We do not comment on the testing pool status of any particular athlete”. Conor McGregor and the UFC have declined to comment on any of these allegations.