Conor McGregor Accepts 18-Month Suspension for Anti-Doping Policy Violation

Dublin, Ireland – Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion, has accepted an 18-month suspension after violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) announced today. The suspension follows three missed biological sample collections within a 12-month period last year.

McGregor missed the sample collections on June 13, September 19, and September 20, 2024, which CSAD classified as Whereabouts Failures. UFC athletes are required to provide accurate whereabouts information to ensure they can be tested without prior warning.

According to CSAD, McGregor was recovering from an injury and not preparing for a fight when the missed tests occurred. Despite this, the agency emphasized the importance of compliance with testing requirements.

CSAD noted that McGregor cooperated fully during the investigation and accepted responsibility for the violations. Due to his cooperation and circumstances, the standard 24-month sanction was reduced by six months.

The suspension began on September 20, 2024, making McGregor eligible to return to competition on March 20, 2026. This timeline allows him to potentially participate in the highly anticipated UFC White House event scheduled for June 14, 2026, where he hopes to face Michael Chandler.

McGregor has not fought since July 2021, when he sustained a broken leg in his fight against Dustin Poirier. Although he aimed to return in 2024, injuries delayed his comeback plans. He has continued to submit samples as part of the UFC’s anti-doping program in 2025, demonstrating his commitment to compliance.