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Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month ban after he missed out on necessary drug tests, ensuring that he can be back in action only in April. As per Combat Sports Anti-Doping, McGregor, 37, missed three attempted biological sample collections within 12 months last year.
Under UFC policy, athletes are required to provide accurate whereabouts information at all times, permitting officials to contact them for unannounced biological sample collections.
McGregor, who has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, missed drug tests on June 13, September 19, and September 20 in 2024. The CSAD stated that McGregor’s ban was reduced from 24 to 18 months in recognition of his cooperation during the investigation and the circumstances of his injury.
As per a UFC statement, McGregor ‘accepted responsibility and shared detailed information that CSAD determined played a role in the missed tests.’
McGregor’s ban started on September 20 last year, after his third whereabouts violation and will end on March 20, 2026, four months shy of his 39th birthday.
McGregor stated that he has signed on to fight at the UFC White House card on June 14, 2026, coinciding with what would be former US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
On Saturday, UFC president Dana White refuted those claims, stating, “I’ve made it clear that Conor wants to fight on that card and you can see he’s fired up, but nothing has been finalised. No fights are being negotiated with the White House.”
On Monday, McGregor announced to his social media followers that he is taking a break from the platforms.
In November, McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages and legal costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of sexual assault in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
In August, she announced her intention to sue McGregor and two others for damages, claiming they engaged in malicious abuse of court processes.
