Breaking: Conor McGregor reveals the timeline for USADA tests and his comeback

Conor McGregor has been inactive since July 2021 when he broke his leg in his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The former double-champ recently revealed that his return to the octagon might come sooner than expected. In a post shared on his Twitter account, McGregor stated:

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"I am clear for testing in February. I will complete my two tests per USADA and we are booking a fight."

Check out Conor McGregor's tweet below:

Conor McGregor

@TheNotoriousMMA

I am clear for testing in February. I will complete my two tests per USADA and we are booking a fight.

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I am clear for testing in February. I will complete my two tests per USADA and we are booking a fight.

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When could Conor McGregor return to the octagon?

Fans were shocked in September 2022 when Aaron Bronsteter of TSN Sports revealed that McGregor is the only fighter on the UFC's roster that has not been tested by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) this year.

The news that he had not been tested, combined with his massive increase in size, led many to speculate that he was using steroids.

Aaron Bronsteter

@aaronbronsteter

After cross-referencing the entire active UFC roster with USADA's athlete test history database, I found that Conor McGregor was the lone active fighter, (aside from some athletes who signed after Aug. 1) to not be tested by USADA.

tsn.ca/ufc-star-conor…

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After cross-referencing the entire active UFC roster with USADA's athlete test history database, I found that Conor McGregor was the lone active fighter, (aside from some athletes who signed after Aug. 1) to not be tested by USADA.

tsn.ca/ufc-star-conor…

While the UFC and McGregor's team declined to comment on the situation, Bronsteter revealed that USADA seemingly passed the blame on to the promotion, noting that they can grant fighters testing exemptions.

We know Conor McGregor is one of the biggest cash cows any combat sports promoter has ever laid eyes on. In view of that, the promotion's continued silence on the lack of testing of the sport's biggest star has raised some eyebrows.

Aaron Bronsteter

@aaronbronsteter

McGregor's team and the UFC declined comment.

USADA provided TSN with the following statement:

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McGregor's team and the UFC declined comment.

USADA provided TSN with the following statement: https://t.co/7iNSS6BwXU

If McGregor returns to the USADA testing pool in February, he will likely need to wait six months before returning to the octagon, So, the soonest he can return would be in August 2023.

It remains to be seen if there is a loophole for him to return more quickly. However, the UFC would surely like to get their biggest star back from his hiatus. McGregor has teased that his return could come at a higher weight class, probably welterweight.

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