The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has decided to end its
partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency starting
January 2024.
USADA has been the UFC’s independent drug testing partner since
2015. However, things have now seemingly turned sour over the
mandatory testing window for former two-division champ Conor
McGregor’s return to action. According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart,
the relationship with the UFC became “untenable” over recent
comments made by the promotion’s leaders and one commentator.
Tygart was likely referring to popular podcaster and longtime UFC
commentator Joe Rogan, who recently called for the promotion to cut
ties with USADA over the six-month testing window and ban on
certain peptides. Tygart said in a written statement:
“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the
statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s
principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without
being in the testing pool for at least six months. One UFC
commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not
oversee the UFC program since we held firm to the six-month rule
involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an
approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like
experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or
injuries simply to get back in the Octagon.”
Although McGregor recently entered the testing pool, Tygart was
unsure if the Irishman will undergo a six-month testing period as
USADA will cease to be the UFC’s testing partner starting Jan. 1,
2024. Tygart also claimed that the Las Vegas-based promotion
reversed its stance on Oct. 9 despite having a “positive and
productive meeting” in May about a contract renewal.
Current policy requires that a fighter have at least two negative
drug screenings and be in the testing pool for a minimum of six
months before competing. The last time the promotion sought and
obtained an exemption from that policy for a high-profile fighter
was at UFC 200 in 2016, when WWE star and former UFC heavyweight
champ Brock Lesnar returned to the Octagon for the first time in
nearly five years to face Mark Hunt. Lesnar defeated Hunt in a
dominant performance, then failed the postfight drug screening,
leading the result to be overturned to a no contest. Hunt
subsequently, unsuccessfully sued the promotion for negligence.
UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald said via social media that drug testing will
continue to be undertaken by another third party. He also hinted
that McGregor re-entered the pool intending to undergo a six-month
testing period.