Conor McGregor, the iconic UFC lightweight champion, has accepted an 18-month suspension from the UFC following three missed biological sample collections in 2024, as confirmed by the organization. The suspension, which is retroactive to the date of his final missed test, means McGregor will be eligible to return to competition in March 2026, three months before the potential White House event that he has publicly expressed his desire to participate in.
According to the UFC, McGregor’s missed tests were categorized as ‘Whereabouts Failures’ under the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) program. While the organization acknowledged that McGregor was recovering from an injury and not actively preparing for a fight at the time of the missed tests, the CSAD emphasized the importance of accurate whereabouts filings and the ability to conduct unannounced testing. Despite these mitigating circumstances, the sanction was reduced to 18 months from the initial 24-month suspension due to McGregor’s full cooperation with the investigation and the detailed information he provided.
The White House event, which is set to take place in June 2026, is expected to feature ‘the greatest fight card ever assembled’ according to UFC CEO Dana White. While McGregor has stated that he is eager to participate in the event, White has made it clear that no official fights have been negotiated with the White House yet. White noted that McGregor has been visibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to fight at the White House event, but emphasized that the event is still in the planning stages.
McGregor’s suspension is a significant setback in his career, as he has not fought since his loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Before his suspension, he was scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, but the event was impacted by his broken pinky toe on June 13, 2024, which is the date of his first missed test. The UFC’s decision to reduce the sanction reflects both the organization’s emphasis on anti-doping compliance and its recognition of McGregor’s cooperation in the investigation.