Conor McGregor handed 18-month suspension for missed UFC doping tests

Conor McGregor has been linked to a return on the UFC's card at the White House in mid-2026. Photo /

After three strikes, Conor McGregor has been ruled out of a return to the UFC octagon until at least March next year.

The Irish superstar has been handed an 18-month suspension from competition by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) for a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy (ADP).

McGregor, who hasn’t fought in the octagon since July 2021, missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period last year, resulting in the violation. The three misses were listed as “whereabouts failures” by CSAD, as athletes in the UFC’s anti-doping testing pool are required to provide information about their whereabouts so they can be contacted for random testing without prior warning.

A statement on the UFC website said McGregor was recovering from injury and not preparing for a fight at the time of the violations – one in June and two in September – but the 37-year-old accepted responsibility and explained the reasons for the missed tests.

“Despite these mitigating factors, CSAD emphasises that accurate whereabouts filings and the ability to conduct unannounced testing are essential to the success of the UFC ADP,” the statement said.

“Taking McGregor’s co-operation and circumstances into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months. His period of ineligibility began on September 20, 2024 (the date of his third whereabouts failure) and will conclude on March 20, 2026.”

The suspension is unlikely to interfere with any plans of a comeback McGregor might have had in the UFC. The former featherweight and lightweight champion noted that he intended to return for the promotion’s card at the White House, which is expected to be held on June 14 – coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

The card was initially expected to be held in early July to coincide with Independence Day, however Trump revealed the June date at the weekend during an address in Virginia.

While McGregor has been vocal about wanting to return for that card, UFC boss Dana White told media after UFC 320 on Sunday that the promotion has not started trying to put a fight card together for the event yet.

“We’re still talking about the production and how everything’s going to work for the White House,” White said.

“We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet. That won’t even start until February. I made it clear that Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is very fired-up to fight on that card, but nothing is done yet. No fights are being negotiated with the White House.”