Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month suspension by the UFC after breaching the organization’s anti-doping regulations.
The Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) agency revealed that the Irish fighter missed three mandatory biological sample collections in 2024 within a 12-month period. Under UFC policy, athletes are required to provide accurate “whereabouts” information to allow for random testing throughout the year.
McGregor, now 37, has not competed since his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, where he suffered a serious leg injury. According to CSAD, the missed tests occurred on June 13, September 19, and September 20 of 2024.
Although the standard penalty for such an infraction is 24 months, McGregor’s sanction was reduced by six months in recognition of his cooperation, acceptance of responsibility, and the mitigating factor of his ongoing injury recovery.
The ban has been made retroactive, taking effect from September 20, 2024, and will therefore expire on March 20, 2026 — making McGregor eligible to return just before his 39th birthday.
McGregor recently claimed that he had signed to fight at a UFC event at the White House set for June 14, 2026, though UFC President Dana White has stated that no bouts for that event have yet been finalized. Following the announcement of his ban, McGregor also said he would take a break from social media.
In 2024, McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages after a Dublin court ruled in favor of a woman who accused him of assault in 2018. Earlier in 2025, he also abandoned plans to run for the Irish presidency, citing personal and professional considerations.
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