Conor McGregor (image via UFC/Twitter)

By FCF Staff

Recently there’s been speculation as to when Conor McGregor will re-enter USADA’s drug testing pool, but it looks like the star will do so, soon.

McGregor is expected to fight fellow, TUF 30 coach Michael Chandler later this year. But, due to the fact the controversial star has yet to re-enter the drug testing pool, when the fight will happen, remains unclear.

The former featherweight and lightweight champ eventually exited the program after he snapped his leg in July, 2021, in a bout with Dustin Poirier. According to USADA’s regulations, a fighter must undergo testing for six-months prior to returning to the cage, after leaving the program.

More recently, USADA released the following statement:

“We have recently been in direct contact with Conor McGregor, and as he confirmed today in the media, we expect to receive his paperwork coming out of retirement and re-entering the USADA testing pool immediately. Like other athletes who come out of retirement, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, McGregor will be subject to testing for at least six months and must provide at least two negative samples before being permitted to compete. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that all athletes who are not subject to a period of testing are adequately tested over a reasonable period of time before competing to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.”

The 34-year-old McGregor had made comments hinting that he may only need to pass two drug tests, before being cleared to compete. But, it seems clear that will not be the case, and that the McGregor -Chandler fight takes place in 2023, it will have to be close to the end of the year.

McGregor and Chandler were the coaches for TUF 30, which will premiere on May 30th.