The UFC and USADA have parted ways after a decade of working together. USADA recently issued a statement announcing the end of their partnership. This development followed reports of Conor McGregor’s return to USADA’s testing pool. In their statement, USADA confirmed that they would stop athlete testing for the UFC beginning in 2024. One reason cited for the split in the statement was a disagreement between USADA and the UFC regarding Conor McGregor’s six-month testing requirement.

UFC CEO Dana White openly expressed his dissatisfaction with USADA’s actions and their statement, specifically stating issues with CEO Travis Tygart’s comments and regarding the strained relationship between the UFC and USADA due to their stance on Conor McGregor’s testing status. In a recent interview, Dana White candidly shared his thoughts on the situation.

Dana White slams USADA CEO for statements involving Conor McGregor and Joe Rogan

According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart, the relationship had begun to fall apart during the summer. It was during this time that Dana White stated that there was a high likelihood of Conor McGregor fighting again in 2023. White was also vocal about USADA’s rules that dictate athletes to be active in the testing program for 6 months before stepping into the cage.

Tygart also hinted at Joe Rogan being one of the reasons behind the split. In the statement, it pointed out that remarks made by a “UFC Commentator” were also an issue. The full statement was as follows, “One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC program since we do not allow fighters to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the octagon.”

Dana White recently gave his thoughts on the issue and Travis Tygart’s statements regarding Conor McGregor in a talk with MMA Junkie and other media members at the UFC Apex. White was brutally honest in his opinion about Tygart.

He stated, “Listen this guy went full Britney Spears, and lost his mind. Get ready, you’ll probably see him on Instagram dancing with knives in the next two weeks or something. He went nuts, he lost his mind, and it is what it is… its whatever.”

The statement came after the UFC executive VP and chief business officer Hunter Campbell released a remark during a press conference slamming USADA’s actions. He stated that the UFC is seeking to serve a legal letter to USADA claiming defamation. He also stated that USADA’s statement was a “complete misrepresentation” and “couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

UFC partners with new independent agency for athlete testing

Reports now indicate that the UFC will proceed with a different independent contractor in the future. The relationship between the USADA and the UFC will come to an end on January 1st, 2024. During their recent press conference, Campbell and Jeff Novitzky, head of athlete testing, expressed strong confidence in the UFC’s ability to establish a superior drug testing standard. Compared to their previous arrangement with USADA.

To achieve this, the UFC unveiled its collaboration with Drug-Free Sport International (DFSI) in order to handle the practical aspects of working directly with UFC athletes worldwide. In the press conference, Campbell assured reporters that the UFC is committed to ensuring that their new drug testing program surpasses the standards they had with USADA.

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Novitzky stated that he would only be associated with a program that upholds the highest standards, now elevated to a “gold and platinum” standard. To support this assertion, Novitzky pointed to DFSI’s experience working with major sports organizations such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA, and NASCAR, highlighting their skill in sample collection.

He also emphasized the UFC’s commitment to maintaining the most transparent anti-doping program in professional sports. Do you think USADA’s exit will have long-term impacts on the future of the UFC? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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