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UFC fighters are beginning to react to the big news regarding the UFC and independent anti-doping agency USADA breaking up.
On Wednesday afternoon, USADA announced that the UFC had informed them they would not be using their services after January 1, 2024.
In a statement released to the press, USADA CEO Travis Tygart said the partnership with the UFC became “untenable” over the pending return of Conor McGregor.
“We can confirm that Conor McGregor has reentered the USADA testing pool as of Sunday, October 8, 2023,” “We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months. The rules also allow USADA to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.
“Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honor the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program. Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.”
“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.”
Fighters were abuzz about the news on social media, and this is how they reacted.
No more Usada?
Fighters until December fighters in January pic.twitter.com/euyI3pmDCw— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 11, 2023
