The United States Anti-Doping Agency dropped a bomb this morning with a shocking announcement. USADA CEO, Travis T. Tygart released a statement regarding the end of their partnership with the UFC. The partnership will officially end on January 1, 2024. In addition to this statement, they also announced that Conor McGregor was back in the testing pool as of October 8, 2023.
USADA has been a part of the UFC Anti-Doping program since 2015. This announcement came as a huge shock to the MMA fans as well as the UFC fighters. Throughout their tenure with the UFC, USADA has had a bunch of critics and this announcement has led to some hilarious reactions from the UFC fighters.
Current UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones had a lot to say on this matter. Jones had a really bad relationship with the doping agency, “Man I survived USADA,” said Jones in his recent tweet. Furthermore, he feels “that BS no over DC” needs to be taken off his record.
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. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I’ve never cheated this sport and I will…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2023
Bones claims that he was wrongly accused of having picograms. “First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal,” adds Jones.
UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland had a hilarious response to this situation. “You guys…did you hear?!? We’re all gonna be juiced up soon,” said Strickland. Strickland then went on to take a jab at USADA, asking them for recommendations.
One X user by the name of Dub Sports replied by saying that they (UFC) got to something out. Strickland took this as an opportunity to take another shot at the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Sean Strickland replied by saying that “USADA is only for Americans.”
UFC welterweight, Gilbert Burns had a hilarious meme up his sleeve for this occasion. He posted a before & after picture of Conor McGregor. Furthermore, he added a caption saying, No more USADA? Fighters until December (for the before pic), fighters in January (for the after pic).
Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor blamed for the end of UFC’s relationship with USADA
In their statement, USADA made it clear that the termination of the partnership is related to Conor McGregor. The testing agency is unsure if the UFC will adhere to the six-month rule in the case of ‘The Notorious One’. They also took some shots at UFC announcer, Joe Rogan.
BREAKING: USADA announces that Conor McGregor has re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program and states that as of January 1, 2024, they will no longer be overseeing the UFC’s anti-doping program. pic.twitter.com/H4X3gITvzW
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 11, 2023
According to USADA, Rogan was very critical of the six-month rule in the case of Conor McGregor. Rogan said that USADA should not be overseeing the UFC anti-doping program. Joe Rogan has aired his frustrations regarding USADA multiple times.
Rogan does not agree with the extreme testing measures of USADA and wants the UFC to have its own in-house testing. Do you agree with the decision made by the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.