Conor McGregor hit with 18-month ban for missing anti-doping tests

Controversial UFC star Conor McGregor has been suspended for 18 months by the UFC anti-doping program Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) for violating the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy. 

In its announcement, CSAD said the Irish fighter missed three attempted biological sample collections during a 12-month period in 2024 and that constituted a violation of anti-doping policy. 

The suspension began retroactively on Sept. 20, 2024 and will run through March 20, 2026.

The missed testing dates occurred on June 13, Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, 2024, and were all classified by the CSAD as “Whereabouts Failures,” though the announcement noted that McGregor had been recovering from an injury and was not in any fight preparation. McGregor last fought in July 2021.

“McGregor fully cooperated with CSAD’s investigation, accepted responsibility, and provided detailed information that CSAD determined contributed to the missed tests,” the announcement read.

“Despite these mitigating factors, CSAD emphasizes that accurate whereabouts filings and the ability to conduct unannounced testing are essential to the success of the UFC ADP. Taking McGregor’s cooperation and circumstances into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months.”

With his eligibility to return in late March, the 37-year-old McGregor would be able to take part in the fights at the White House on June 14, 2026. 

President Donald Trump confirmed over the weekend that the UFC card would be taking place.

McGregor has lobbied hard to be included in the event and said in a video shot by street journalist Adam Glyn that it’s a “definitely” for him to be part of the UFC White House fight. 

UFC CEO Dana White denied that McGregor was already slated to fight at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 

“We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet,” White said at the press conference following UFC 320 this past weekend. “That won’t even start until February. I made it clear that Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card, but nothing is done yet. No fights are being negotiated with the White House.”