Conor McGregor has received an 18-month suspension from the UFC’s anti-doping program, known as the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD). The suspension was announced on Tuesday and will end on March 20, 2026. This timing comes just a few months ahead of the UFC’s highly anticipated fight card, which President Donald Trump has scheduled for June 14, 2026, coinciding with his birthday.
Details of the Suspension
The suspension is a result of three whereabouts failures. McGregor missed testing on June 13, September 19, and September 20, 2024. According to CSAD, he failed to provide accurate location information for biological sample collections, violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (ADP).
Specifics of the Missed Tests
- June 13, 2024: This date coincided with the cancellation of McGregor’s fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, as announced by UFC CEO Dana White.
- September 19 and 20, 2024: The missed tests on these dates were also classified as whereabouts failures.
CSAD indicated that McGregor was recovering from an injury and not actively preparing for a fight during these testing windows. Despite these factors, his failure to submit to testing was deemed a violation.
In a statement, CSAD noted, “Although McGregor failed to make himself available for testing on those dates, he was not preparing for an upcoming fight.” His cooperation with the investigation and the circumstances surrounding his missed tests contributed to a reduced suspension period.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2024 | Missed test; fight with Michael Chandler cancelled |
| September 19, 2024 | Missed test |
| September 20, 2024 | Final missed test, marking the beginning of the suspension |
| March 20, 2026 | End of suspension period |
Looking Ahead
McGregor has made public appeals to be included in the upcoming fight card. This would mark his return to the octagon after nearly five years. Notably, he is currently in the UFC’s anti-doping testing pool and has submitted four samples in 2025.
In conjunction with this announcement, McGregor has opted for an indefinite break from social media, a move that coincides with this period of suspension.
