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UFC icon Conor McGregor Submits first USADA sample since rejoining testing pool

Former two-division UFC world champion Conor McGregor has turned in his first sample to the United States Anti-Doping Agency…

Former two-division UFC world champion Conor McGregor has turned in his first sample to the United States Anti-Doping Agency after jumping back into the pool for the first time in more than two years.

After suffering a devastating leg break during the first round of his UFC 264 trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, McGregor exited the USADA testing pool to focus on his recovery. More than two years later, the Irishman is back in the pool, though it didn’t come without a bit of controversy.

Per a screenshot from Jed I. Goodman on X, Conor McGregor has provided three USADA samples and one test, signifying that the countdown to his highly anticipated return has officially commenced.

As of October 26, Conor McGregor shows 3 USADA Sample Counts and 1 USADA Test Session Count in 2023. pic.twitter.com/kO6TMnuTYW

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 26, 2023

Typically, USADA requires athletes to remain in the testing pool for no less than six months before being cleared to compete. However, with the news that the UFC and USADA would no longer be working together come 2024, we could theoretically see McGregor back in action as soon as the promotion’s partnership with the anti-doping agency expires on December 31.

Conor McGregor Reportedly at the forefront of USADA’s Rift with the UFC

According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart, it was McGregor’s long-awaited return to the testing pool that ultimately made their relationship with the UFC “untenable” after nearly a decade of working together. Tygart suggested that the promotion fought to clear McGregor for a return long before meeting the full six month pre-fight testing requirements, something that USADA reportedly refused to budge on.

“Fighters’ long-term health and safety — in addition to a fair and level playing field — are more important to USADA than short-term profits at the expense of clean athletes,” Tygart wrote in the statement.

Beginning on January 1, the UFC will work with Drug Free Sport International, the organization that handles testing duties for the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA. The promotion has also hired ex-FBI special agent George Piro to head their new anti-drug program.

Mark Hunt slams ‘Scumbag gutterdog’ Dana White following news of the UFC’s split with USADA

Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has been a busy man on social media following the announcement that the UFC would be parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, aka USADA, at the end of the year. Last week, USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement announcing that the agency’s partnership with the UFC would […]

Last week, USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement announcing that the agency’s partnership with the UFC would expire come December 31, 2023, bringing an end to an eight-year partnership that saw athletes tested more than 27,000 times.

Tygart’s reveal kickstarted a war of words between the UFC and USADA, but thus far, athletes have largely been in support of the split, with one glaring and frankly unsurprising exception.

One-time title challenger Mark Hunt, who has had a contentious relationship with the UFC and Dana White dating back to his July 2016 clash with Brock Lesnar at UFC 200, shared his take on the UFC’s split with USADA. And as you can imagine, the reaction was nothing short of scathing.

“I give you a year [Dana White and UFC] before you are no more,” Hunt wrote on Instagram in response to the news. “You can’t keep ripping fighters and their families off. The exodus from you criminals is already starting.”

He followed that up with another post, specifically targeting the UFC CEO.

“The only scumbag gutterdog is u worthless fkn mutt @danawhite imagine waiting for my lawsuit to end so u could try force usada to put McGregor in without testing why make rules when u dont follow them or enforce them yourself it isnt over yet boi.”

Mark Hunt is Still Holding onto His Gruge with the UFC

Mark Hunt spent the last few years in litigation with the UFC after it was revealed that his UFC 200 opponent, Brock Lesnar, had tested positive for a banned substance before their fight at the landmark event. Hunt argued that the UFC and Dana White knew of Lesnar’s failed test and kept the results hidden from the public until after the event.

The lawsuit was eventually thrown out after Hunt failed to prove the trio knowingly misled him that Lesnar would not use performance-enhancing drugs in connection with their bout and conspired to book it despite prior knowledge that Lesnar was doping.

Hunt was also ordered to pay the UFC $388,235 in reimbursement for legal fees dating back to 2017.

The ‘Super Samoan’ recently found himself in his own war of words with BJJ king Gordon Ryan after the two men took very different stances on the UFC’s breakup with USADA.

Darren Till plans UFC comeback alongside ‘Superhuman athletes’ amid USADA rift, impending exit in 2024

Former welterweight title challenger and middleweight contender, Darren Till claims he will make good on an eventual return to the UFC – and predicts the promotion will now see an influx of “super-human athletes” and “more steroids”, amid the impending exit of USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency). Till, a one-time welterweight title challenger under the […]

Till, a one-time welterweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, ended his tenure under the banner of the Dana White-led promotion back in December of last year, suffering his third consecutive loss to surging middleweight challenger, Dricus du Plessis.

Bookending his tenure with a submission loss to du Plessis, the Liverpool native had dropped consecutive submission losses to promotional alum, Derek Brunson, and a decision defeat to former champion, Robert Whittaker.

Darren Till echoes plans for a return to the UFC in the future

And appearing to play-up a long-rumored BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) clash against fellow UFC veteran, Mike Perry during an appearance at Misfits Boxing over the course of the weekend, Team Kaobon staple, Till reminded fans of his intentions to make a return to the UFC.

“God bless Dana White, I absolutely love him to death and I’ll be back at the UFC one day, even though everyone thinks I won’t, but I will,” Darren Till told The Schmo. “Superhuman athletes coming to a UFC near you soon? There’s one thing I’ve never got involved in: it’s the politics and the pay. I always told Dana, if I ever had a problem with him, I’d always confront him face-to-face, which I did. Let’s see what happens with USADA. More steroids, isn’t it?”

Last week to boot, the aforenoted, USADA confirmed an impending split from the UFC, come January 1. next – with Drug Free Sports International set to take over a new anti-doping policy programe with the organization in 2024.

Leading the anti-doping programe as an independent administrator as per Jeff Novitsky, is former FBI special agent, George Piro, a trainee at American Top Team and Team Leader and lead interrogator during the 2004 interrogation of former Iraqi president and revolutionary, Saddam Hussein.

Would you like to see Darren Till make a comeback to the UFC?

Paulo Costa details anxiety issues caused by late-Night USADA visits: ‘I hate the way they chase me’

You can add Paulo Costa’s name to the list of UFC fighters speaking out against USADA after the anti-doping agency revealed that they would no longer be working with the promotion come 2024. On Wednesday USADA CEO Travis Tygart announced in a statement that the UFC would not renew its contract with the organization, citing […]

You can add Paulo Costa’s name to the list of UFC fighters speaking out against USADA after the anti-doping agency revealed that they would no longer be working with the promotion come 2024.

On Wednesday USADA CEO Travis Tygart announced in a statement that the UFC would not renew its contract with the organization, citing that their relationship had become “untenable” over Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the testing pool. Since then, UFC officials including Dana White, Hunter Campbell, and Jeff Novitzky have spoken out against Tygart and USADA.

UFC fighters have also gotten into the act with many of them celebrating the UFC’s split from USADA. Most notably, Jon Jones, who has had his fair share of issues with the anti-doping agency, shared his take on the situation. Now, Paulo Costa is adding his two cents, speaking of the anxiety USADA would regularly cause him with untimely visits during the most crucial parts of his fight prep.

“I hate the way Usada chase me,” Costa wrote on X. “Sometimes in hard training camp I often had anxiety before going to sleep because I was woken up at 4 am to urinate and have my blood drawn. I could only sleep after breaking my diet and slept 3 hours later, losing quality of sleep and morning training.”

I hate the way Usada chase me . Sometimes in hard training camp I often had anxiety before going to sleep because I was woken up at 4 am to urinate and have my blood drawn. I could only sleep after breaking my diet and slept 3 hours later , losing quality of sleep and morning…

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 14, 2023

Chase Hooper Echoed Paulo Costa’s Frustration Over Untimely USADA Visits

UFC lightweight standout Chase Hooper echoed similar sentiments on social media.

“Damn… they better give me my f*cking t-shirt,” Hooper posted. “You’re supposed to get one after you pass 25 tests, and I just did my 23rd one in August. Why else am I peeing in cups for these that dudes show up unannounced at 6 in the morning if I’m not at least getting a t-shirt out of it???”

24 hours after Travis Tygart broke the news of the pairing’s imminent split, the UFC revealed that as of January 1, 2024, they would partner with Drug Free Sport International, the agency that currently handles testing duties for the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NCAA. No other details have been announced as of yet, but UFC officials did confirm that any sanctions handed down by USADA will be honored beyond their contract end date of December 31, 2023.

Now, about Chase Hooper’s t-shirt…

Dana White claims USADA CEO ‘Went full Britney Spears’ and ‘Lost his mind’ following UFC split

USADA’s relationship with the UFC may be coming to an end, but the war of words between Dana White and the anti-doping agency’s CEO, Travis Tygart, is far from over. On Wednesday, Tygart revealed in a statement that USADA would no longer be working with the UFC come January 1, 2024, citing that the pair’s […]

USADA’s relationship with the UFC may be coming to an end, but the war of words between Dana White and the anti-doping agency’s CEO, Travis Tygart, is far from over.

On Wednesday, Tygart revealed in a statement that USADA would no longer be working with the UFC come January 1, 2024, citing that the pair’s relationship had become “untenable” over the return of megastar Conor McGregor. White called the comments pure “scumbagism” while the EVP of the UFC, Hunter Campbell claimed that Tygart’s assessment of the situation was a “complete misrepresentation of what occurred over the last several months.”

Speaking with TheMACLife, Dana White expanded on his thoughts regarding the recent rift with USADA, saying:

“Listen, it is what it is, they did what they did. And think about this, right? They’re in a business where they’re looking to bring other sports leagues in. They were with us for eight years. We helped put them on the map. They helped us build an incredible program.

“This is how you’re going to end your relationship with us? Who else would want to do business with these guys after that? Not me. So, it doesn’t matter to me. We’re moving on, and good luck to them” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Dana White Once Again Slams USADA CEO Travis Tygart

On Thursday, the promotion announced that as of 2024, the UFC would partner with Drug Free Sport International, the anti-doping agency that currently handles duties for the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NCAA.

Of course, Dana White couldn’t resist taking one more dig at Travis Tygart in front of cameras, likening the USADA CEO to the perpetually unhinged pop star, Britney Spears.

“Listen, this guy went full Britney Spears and lost his mind,” White said. “Get ready. You’re probably going to see this guy on Instagram dancing with knives probably in the next to weeks or something. He went nuts, he lost his mind, and it is what it is. It’s whatever.”

Needless to say, there is no love lost between USADA and the UFC.

UFC’s Hunter Campbell defends Conor McGregor over USADA issue: ‘What they’ve done to him is disgusting’

The UFC take a strong stance on ongoing situation with Conor McGregor and USADA. It has been a crazy week for the UFC, having to save both main and co-main events slots for the upcoming 294 card, then announcing its split with drug testing agency, USADA. USADA released a scathing response to the split — […]

The UFC take a strong stance on ongoing situation with Conor McGregor and USADA.

It has been a crazy week for the UFC, having to save both main and co-main events slots for the upcoming 294 card, then announcing its split with drug testing agency, USADA.

USADA released a scathing response to the split — with many accusing them of insinuating that Conor McGregor had been taking performance-enhancing drugs following his leg break suffered in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, including testosterone, and experimental peptides.

UFC unhappy with USDA’s comments on Conor McGregor

The UFC were not happy about USADA’s letter and their treatment of McGregor. In a press conference held by Hunter Campbell and Jeff Novitsky, the pair addressed the issue and Hunter specifically demanded an apology from the testing agency.

“Disappointingly, they used Conor McGregor as a vehicle to sort of articulate and re-frame a complete misrepresentation of what occurred over the last several months,” Campbell said. “What I can categorically tell you is, what USADA has put out in the last 48 hours could not be farther from the truth.” (H/T MMA Junkie)

“The conversations I had with Conor and his physician when that occurred had nothing to do with fighting,” Hunter continued. “They were legitimately concerned he wasn’t going to regain full use of his leg ever again, including the ligaments around it. And I’ll say it one last time, what they’ve done to him is disgusting. For an entity that holds themself out to have a level of honor and integrity, using him as a media vehicle to advance a fake narrative is disturbing, disgusting, and I think they have some legitimate legal liability that they should be very concerned with.”

The UFC has since announced that they would partner with Drug Free Sports International, which will begin on January 1st 2024.

What is your opinion on the Conor McGregor/USADA situation?