For Conor McGregor, his spot in June’s UFC White House card is a “done deal.” He confidently claims that he will fight Michael Chandler, an opponent he was supposed to face some years ago. In the meantime, Combat Sports Anti-Doping announced on Tuesday that the former UFC double champion has been handed an 18-month suspension for violating UFC’s anti-doping policy. What’s the policy?

“McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024,” CSAD said in a statement. The organization admitted that McGregor was recovering from an injury at the time, and he later cooperated with the inquiry, taking responsibility, so they reduced the suspension by three months. Yet the suspension was the only reason McGregor’s violation came to light, says Chael Sonnen. 

Conor McGregor might not have been able to participate in the White House card

“Conor has a whereabouts violation. Not only does that not call for a disciplinary act, but that’s also information that would have stayed very quiet, [if it hadn’t been for CSAD]” Chael Sonnen explained in his latest YouTube video. “Now, once he gets three, the way that’s going to be handled is—before that’s made public to any of you—they are going to reach a resolution.”

Sonnen then recalled three fighters who were previously involved in anti-doping violations. “All three got to have a hearing. They brought their story forward, their science, and their facts. USADA cleared all three of them. They never should have been accused,” he said. One of those fighters, Junior dos Santos, reportedly lost several sponsors as a result of the false allegations.

This time, Sonnen noted, the Combat Sports Anti-Doping agency wanted to be more cautious. “We’re going to look at the facts, we’re going to hear what they have to say, and we’re going to conclude this before we take it to the public,” Sonnen said about CSAD’s approach to Conor McGregor’s case. 

Although UFC CEO Dana White has not yet confirmed the lineup, and McGregor’s suspension ends on March 20, 2026, potentially allowing him to compete on the card, Sonnen suggested the revelation could have severely damaged McGregor’s reputation. “The conversation of being booked next year at the White House would not have even started if this information [were] known,” he said. 

“So, I think ultimately I’m giving credit to the agency. They must have actually kept a secret—and I can tell you, nobody can usually do that,” Sonnen said in his YouTube video. Regardless, the question is, has Conor McGregor really been confirmed for a spot on the White House card?

Dana White debunks McGregor’s done deal claim

Dana White has dismissed Conor McGregor’s claim that his next fight is finalized. Earlier this week, McGregor told Fox Sports that he had already signed the paperwork to headline the unprecedented UFC White House card next June. “It’s a done deal, signed, delivered,” McGregor declared. “End of negotiations. McGregor will compete in the White House for America’s 250th birthday.”

However, White quickly shut down the announcement during the UFC 320 post-fight press conference. “We’re still talking about the production and how everything is going to work at the White House,” the UFC CEO clarified. “We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet. That won’t even start until February.”

While White admitted McGregor is “very fired up to be on that card,” he emphasized, “nothing is done yet, and no fights are being negotiated with the White House.”

That being said, Conor McGregor might still be allowed to fight at the UFC White House event. However, Sonnen believes it’s all thanks to CSAD. Do you agree?