UFC to Cut Ties with Drug-Testing Agency

Early last month, the USADA CEO announced that the UFC has begun to cut ties with the drug testing agency come 2024.

Athletes are in disbelief after UFC President Dana White cut ties with USADA starting in 2024. The sport is going to see a big change in the new year. According to USADA CEO Tygart, via mmafighting.com, there’s a “strained relationship between USADA and the UFC, which he said is largely due to the situation surrounding McGregor.”

Connor McGregor, a popular athlete, was injured in a fight in late 2021, causing him to drop out of the testing pool for the UFC. 

Athletes, coaches, and fans in the past have all described McGregor’s relationship with steroids to be existent. 

Richard Perez, the coach of former UFC star Nate Diaz, described McGregor to be very suspicious and “shady” after the weigh-ins for UFC 196 in 2016. 

“The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months,” Tygart said.

It’s no surprise that fans don’t totally disagree with the UFC’s decision, as it allows McGregor to fight. Current and former athletes of the sport are rather upset by this decision made by UFC President Dana White. 

Mark Hunt, a former UFC star, took to Instagram to say, “I give you a year [Dana White and UFC] before you are no more… You can’t keep ripping fighters and their families off. The exodus from you criminals is already starting.”

Jon Jones, the current UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world, felt very betrayed, as he said on Twitter, “Man, I survived USADA. First, they said I was guilty of having picograms. Then they considered me innocent. Next, picograms became legal. Guess what–I’m still here, still unbeaten… I’ve never cheated this sport and I will stand by that until the day I die.” 

Many questions still remain for current fighters in the UFC and their careers. The departure will be final in January of 2024.