UFC Star McGregor Sidelined Until 2026 After Missed Drug Tests

According to the latest reports, Conor McGregor, the renowned Irish mixed martial artist, has accepted an 18-month ban from the UFC for violating the organization's anti-doping policy. The ban comes after McGregor, 37, missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024.

The UFC's policy requires athletes to provide accurate whereabouts information at all times, allowing them to be contacted and submit to drug tests without warning. McGregor missed tests on June 13, September 19, and September 20 of last year. The Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) organization, which oversees the UFC's anti-doping program, initially imposed a 24-month suspension on McGregor. However, they reduced the ban to 18 months in acknowledgment of his cooperation with the investigation and his injury circumstances.

McGregor's suspension began on September 20, 2024, the date of his third whereabouts failure, and will conclude on March 20, 2026, four months before his 39th birthday. This means the former UFC champion will be sidelined from professional competition for nearly two years. The news comes as a significant blow to McGregor's career, as he had recently claimed to have signed a fight on the UFC White House card scheduled for June 14, 2026. However, UFC president Dana White has denied that any such fight is currently being negotiated.