Conor McGregor is about to battle Max Holloway in a rematch for the primary time in 5 years at UFC 329 this July, however his street to restoration might have included using performance-enhancing medication, based on a report in Thursday’s New York Instances.
The report alleges McGregor used “potent prohibited substances” whereas recovering from a severe leg damage sustained in opposition to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Within the third assembly between the 2 males, McGregor was searching for some measure of revenge after his knockout loss to Poirier six months in the past. As an alternative, McGregor broke his leg on the finish of spherical one, requiring emergency surgical procedure for a fractured fibula and tibia, and was sidelined for an prolonged time frame.
Dr. Neil El-Atrache, who carried out McGregor’s surgical procedure in 2021, informed the Instances that he “didn’t prescribe any hormone or steroid remedy” to the previous two-division UFC champion, however wrote a letter supporting McGregor’s request for a particular exemption that may permit him to make use of performance-enhancing medication throughout his restoration. The report cites sources who imagine McGregor and his crew had been making an attempt to reap the benefits of a loophole within the testing program of the U.S. Anti-Doping Company (the UFC’s official anti-doping accomplice on the time) and weren’t granted a waiver.
Throughout McGregor’s time away from competitors, followers and fighters brazenly questioned whether or not he was utilizing steroids, partly as a result of McGregor recurrently posted photos on social media of himself trying noticeably heavier throughout his restoration, a physique that was noticeable when he starred in a 2022 movie. street home. UFC veterans Justin Gaethje and Matt Brown had been amongst those that agreed with the suggestion that McGregor was exploiting a loophole within the system.
McGregor hasn’t actively competed since his damage in 2021, so he was faraway from USADA’s testing schedule with the understanding that his return would require six months of testing earlier than returning to the Octagon.
The Instances contacted McGregor’s supervisor Audie Attard, who additionally declined to touch upon McGregor’s restoration or whether or not banned substances had been concerned. “Even with surgical procedure, there’s a actual chance that Conor won’t ever stroll once more, he’s prone to face a lot of lifelong unwanted side effects that restrict his mobility, and there are severe questions on his return to the Octagon,” Attar mentioned.
Attar denied any nefarious intentions on McGregor’s half and insisted the fighter wanted to be withdrawn from the USADA testing pool “to concentrate on his restoration.” Mr. Attar additionally informed the Instances that Mr. McGregor’s medical crew “oversaw a mixture of ugly surgical procedures, intensive bodily remedy, and well-prescribed medicines. The discharge of my shopper’s purported private medical data could be an infinite violation of his well being and privateness protections.”
UFC Chief Monetary Officer Hunter Campbell supplied extra feedback within the report, explaining that McGregor “maintained applicable communication together with his crew” and was “absolutely compliant with the foundations of the great drug program.”
Mr El Atrache informed the Instances that Mr McGregor wrote the letter supporting the exemption after consulting with consultants who mentioned it will “maximize the probabilities of constructive union and therapeutic of the fracture and cut back the possibility of remaining incompletely healed fracture strains”. Nevertheless, he claimed he was not concerned in assessing the accidents and didn’t prescribe any particular treatment.
“You might be appearing as if “prohibited medication” are in some way “unlawful medication,” or as in the event that they don’t have any reputable therapeutic use, solely performance-enhancing use,” El Atrache added, defending the exemption suggestion. “The listing contains a lot of ‘prohibited medication’ which might be wanted to medically deal with a wide range of situations that happen in folks. That’s the reason therapeutic use exemption purposes exist.”
In its report, The Instances sought recommendation from anti-doping skilled and former World Anti-Doping Company chairman Dr. David Gerrard, who defined that exemptions usually name for a assessment to find out if an athlete is denied any performance-enhancing advantages past restoration. In his opinion, McGregor’s case didn’t meet the necessities for immunity.
“I’ve no recollection of seeing any circumstances or agreeing to performance-enhancing medication to assist heal damaged bones,” Gerrard mentioned. “I can not consider any banned medication which were proven to assist bone therapeutic.”
Disagreements between the UFC and USADA surfaced in late 2023 after UFC CEO Dana White mocked USADA’s request to impose a six-month check on McGregor’s return to competitors. By then, relations between the 2 corporations had soured to the purpose that the UFC ended the partnership, with the promotion threatening to sue USADA after USADA CEO Travis Tygart informed MMA Preventing that disagreements over the dealing with of the McGregor scenario contributed to the cut up.
Sources who spoke to the Instances mentioned McGregor was required to disclose whether or not he had used any banned substances whereas out of the testing pool earlier than returning to the pool in October 2023. Officers reportedly found McGregor had been consuming a prohibited substance.
Beneath the brand new drug testing regime, McGregor was introduced to battle Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2025, however later withdrew from the battle because of a toe damage. In October of the next 12 months, the Fight Sports activities Anti-Doping Company introduced that McGregor had been suspended for 18 months for failing to supply a number of check samples. The suspension was retroactive to September 2024, permitting him to return in 2026, however McGregor campaigned however in the end did not earn a spot on the UFC White Home occasion on June 14.
McGregor will as an alternative headline UFC 329, dealing with Holloway in a welterweight bout scheduled for July 11 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.
