Conor McGregor[1] has accepted an 18-month period of ineligibility following a violation of the UFC[2]‘s Anti-Doping policy.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the UFC confirmed McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024.
His period of ineligibility began on September 20, 2024 and will conclude on March 20, 2026 – meaning he’d be eligible to fight at the White House[3] event on June 14.
The statement read: ‘Although McGregor failed to make himself available for testing on those dates, CSAD noted that he was recovering from an injury and was not preparing for an upcoming fight at the time of the three missed tests.
‘McGregor fully cooperated with CSAD’s investigation, accepted responsibility, and provided detailed information that CSAD determined contributed to the missed tests.
‘Taking McGregor’s cooperation and circumstances into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months.
Conor McGregor has accepted an 18-month period of ineligibility for violating UFC policies
However, his ban is set to end before the UFC’s highly-anticipated White House event
‘His period of ineligibility began on September 20, 2024 (the date of his third whereabouts failure) and will conclude on March 20, 2026’.
Just last week, Donald Trump[4] revealed the UFC card taking place at the White House[5] is set to go ahead on June 14 next year – which will be his 80th birthday.
The President made the announcement during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy on Sunday.
He had announced in July that a UFC[6] event would take place at the White House in 2026, but did not give a date. Early July, when America will celebrate its 250th birthday, was initially floated as a potential date.
Trump counts UFC chief Dana White[7] as a close friend and considers fans of the sport part of his political base, although their ties long predate his presidency.
White also told the Sports Business Journal that the UFC will spend $700k to replace the South Lawn grass at the White House after the event.
McGregor has been tipped to be the big name on the card, with UFC chief White claiming that the Irishman is one of the organization’s most dependable stars.
Interestingly, just one day before the announcement of McGregor’s ban, the UFC star took to social media to announce he was taking a break from the internet.
He wrote: ‘Hey folks online, I’m out of here for a bit, see you again soon! My love, unwavering! Thank you all’.
While the UFC are yet to confirm or deny McGregor’s participation, the Irishman himself is doing plenty of talking.
UFC have revealed what their White House event could look like in the first renderings
The event will look spectacular and will be held on the White House Lawn next June
The weigh-in and press conferences would take place outside the Lincoln Memorial, which is undergoing renovations for a new museum and visitors’ centre
While the UFC are yet to confirm or deny McGregor’s participation, the Irishman himself is doing plenty of talking
He told Fox: ‘The Mac is excited to get back for sure. I’m on it. This is me. Michael Chandler and myself have done the show The Ultimate Fighter, we’ve had good back and forth, he’s a good, tough guy.’
White added: ‘We’ll build the greatest card of all time. Conor and I have been talking consistently, he wants this fight bad and when you get to a level that Conor is at you have to find things that motivate you, and the White House card has definitely motivated Conor McGregor.’
Interestingly, in the last week, McGregor has said he is negotiating directly with the White House rather than his paymasters.
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Inside the UFC’s plans to host a fight night at the White House
‘I’m not negotiating with the UFC on behalf of myself for this fight like usual. I’m negotiating with the United States of America on behalf of Ireland for this fight,’ he said.
‘It’s a peculiar one. Trump and the administration have been fully supportive and backing, and I cannot wait to put on a show.’
And McGregor’s demands to fight are astonishing. He posted on X earlier this month, writing: ‘$100million to fight at the White House along with 100 U.S ‘Golden Visas’ for myself and family and friends.
‘I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again. A pleasure I never take for granted!’
References
- ^ Conor McGregor (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ UFC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ White House (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Donald Trump (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ White House (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ UFC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Dana White (www.dailymail.co.uk)