BREAKING: Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month suspension from the UFC’s anti-doping program, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), due to missed drug tests. The suspension is effective immediately and will end on March 20, 2026, just before the highly anticipated UFC event scheduled for June 14, 2026, coinciding with President Donald Trump‘s birthday.
This suspension significantly impacts McGregor’s plans to return to the octagon, as he has been actively campaigning for a spot on the fight card, which would mark his first fight in nearly five years. The announcement comes after McGregor missed three critical drug tests throughout 2024, leading to this substantial penalty.
According to CSAD, McGregor’s suspension results from three “whereabouts failures,” where he failed to provide accurate location details for testing on June 13, September 19, and September 20, 2024. A CSAD statement outlined, “UFC athletes are required to provide accurate whereabouts information at all times, so they can be contacted and submit to biological sample collections without prior warning.”
“McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024, which constitutes a violation of the UFC ADP,” CSAD reported.
The missed test on June 13 directly coincided with UFC CEO Dana White‘s announcement regarding the cancellation of McGregor’s scheduled fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. Despite the violations, CSAD acknowledged that McGregor was recovering from an injury and not actively preparing for a fight at the time.
CSAD further noted, “Although McGregor failed to make himself available for testing on those dates, he fully cooperated with CSAD’s investigation, accepted responsibility, and provided detailed information that contributed to the missed tests.” Taking his cooperation into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months.
McGregor’s period of ineligibility officially began on September 20, 2024, the date of his last whereabouts failure. This ruling has sent shockwaves through the MMA community, leaving fans questioning if McGregor will ever make his long-awaited return.
Adding to the drama, McGregor recently announced on social media platform X that he would be taking an indefinite break from online activity. Currently, he is still in the UFC’s anti-doping testing pool, with four samples submitted in 2025.
The implications of this suspension resonate deeply, as McGregor’s absence from the sport has caused a significant buzz among fans and analysts alike. As the UFC prepares for upcoming events, all eyes will be on McGregor’s next steps and the potential for a comeback.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and watch for further news regarding McGregor’s status and the upcoming fight card in June 2026.
