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The UFC-USADA beef has taken another turn.
On Wednesday, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) revealed the UFC had told them they would not renew their partnership after January 1, 2024.
According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart. their relationship with the UFC had become “untenable” due to issues with 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.”
On Thursday, UFC Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell spoke the media and threatened legal action if USADA didn’t retract their “disgusting” comments about McGregor.
Campbell says that what USADA have done to Conor McGregor is disgusting and that they may be legally liable for it.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 12, 2023
Campbell says that USADA CEO Travis Tygart "lost his mind" on the phone call that they had on Monday after he was told that the UFC were going in a different direction.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 12, 2023
Campbell: McGregor is 100% in the pool. He's conducted himself with integrity and honesty. He's done everything right. As you can imagine, he's very upset at what they've done with him. They've done tremendous damage.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) October 12, 2023
The UFC, in a legal letter, is demanding a retraction and apology from USADA no later than today at 5 p.m.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) October 12, 2023
Campbell believes that USADA have used McGregor as a vehicle to advance a false narrative and calls it "incredibly unethical".
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 12, 2023
During an interview with Pat McAfee. UFC CEO Dana White called USADA’S statement “scumbagism.”
“It wasn’t an announcement. It was a dirty move by USADA,”There was no announcement that was straight up ‘scumbagism’, what happened yesterday.
“That will all be addressed today, not by me but by Jeff Novitzky and our lawyer Hunter Campbell. The you-know-what is about to hit the fan on that one.”
While the UFC is done with USADA, the company plans to work with Drug Free Sport International, as well as former FBI agent George Piro to oversee their new independent anti-doping program.