.png)
Conor McGregor is finishing the last step required to officially announce his return to the UFC.
Officials from the USADA revealed to MMA Fighting on Friday that McGregor is anticipated to rejoin the UFC's anti-doping programme for drug testing before to his next fight. The declaration came after McGregor responded "that's done" when asked if he would return to the testing pool.
Fighters who retire or withdraw themselves from the testing pool must submit to a drug test after six months in order to be eligible to compete once more under the terms of the UFC's anti-doping programme.
“We have recently been in direct contact with Conor McGregor, and as he confirmed today in the media, we expect to receive his paperwork coming out of retirement and re-entering the USADA testing pool immediately,” a USADA official wrote in the statement. “Like other athletes who come out of retirement, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, McGregor will be subject to testing for at least six months and must provide at least two negative samples before being permitted to compete.
“The purpose of this rule is to ensure that all athletes who are not subject to a period of testing are adequately tested over a reasonable period of time before competing to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.”
Although no specific date has been confirmed, McGregor is anticipated to face fellow Ultimate Fighter 31 coach Michael Chandler later this year. If McGregor submits negative test results and returns to the UFC's anti-doping programme on schedule, he should be qualified to participate in either November or December.
Despite the fact that the organisation is anticipated to return to Madison Square Garden in New York City in November, the UFC hasn't made any formal announcements regarding events in either month.