Manager gives update on the USADA situation of Conor McGregor

21 July 2023

Audie Attar indicates that Conor McGregor's comeback won't involve any loopholes. After his role in "The Ultimate Fighter" opposite Michael Chandler, airing on ESPN until Aug. 15, McGregor is expected to face Chandler in his return to the octagon. McGregor's last fight was a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, resulting in a leg injury.

However, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) online testing database shows that McGregor has not yet submitted a sample in 2023. Typically, fighters are required to be in the testing pool for six months before a fight unless the UFC grants an exemption.

“One of the things everybody forgets is that Conor was one of the most tested athletes when he was competing, and we’re going about things the right way. We’re in active discussions with the UFC, we’ve spoken to USADA, and we’re going to do things the right way,” Attar told MMA Junkie.

“That’s all I’m going to say about that. The thing about Conor McGregor is, people will speculate and stories run wild that are nine times out of 10 very inaccurate and false, so that’s all I’ll say about that. But certainly, he’s looking for a comeback in 2024.”

Nonetheless, McGregor's manager, Attar, explains that they have been in communication with USADA, and the situation seems to be progressing in the right direction.

Despite many lightweights advising Chandler to abandon the idea of fighting McGregor, Attar does not guarantee that Chandler will be the opponent for McGregor's comeback. However, he notes that McGregor has been primarily focused on facing Chandler in his return to the octagon.

“You can’t rule out the end of the year, but I think just in terms of where we are right now in terms of the date, it’s likely going to be 2024,” Attar said. “I think that’s what the UFC has their sights set on so, we’ll see kind of exactly when that will be,” he concluded.

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