Michael Chandler Drug Tested the Week After Conor McGregor’s USADA Deadline Expired

Inside Fighting

June 21, 2023

Michael Chandler submits samples to USADA after Conor McGregor misses deadline to fight in 2023

The coaches of TUF 31 may not be fighting at the end of the year after all.

In a touch of cosmic irony, USADA showed up at Michael Chandler’s house in a routine random drug testing – the same day it was revealed that Conor McGregor missed his deadline to enter the USADA pool. Currently, McGregor is ineligible to fight in the UFC in 2023.

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“You guys have all seen the news, Conor’s not in USADA,” a disappointed Chandler lamented in a post made on his social media. “And comically, USADA shows up at my door today, to add insult to injury!”

While the fight between Chandler and McGregor seems unlikely to happen this year, there is still a possibility of an exemption being granted so that McGregor can compete. USADA has a mandatory 6-month testing period before fighters can return to action, but exemptions can be granted in extraordinary circumstances.

According to a USADA statement made in December 2022 after it was revealed that TJ Dillashaw was no longer in the program, “the UFC may grant an exemption to the six-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to the athlete. But in both cases, the athlete must provide at least two negative samples before returning to competition.”

So there’s still a sliver of hope for fans who wanted to see Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler – but with the Irish superstar’s interest potentially waning, the fight my never come to fruition.

We’ll just have to wait and see.