MMA is a sport that has had its fair share of controversies. One of the major issues plaguing the sport is the usage of prohibited medications and steroids by the athletes. However, with the United States Anti-Doping Agency(USADA) keeping a vigilant eye over the athletes, the sport is now almost free from steroids. A lot of athletes have praised the USADA for the strict rules and the tests they conduct in order to ensure a drug-free sport. This time, the famed former Bellator and current UFC Lightweight fighter, Michael Chandler shared endearing words about the USADA. He also talked about Conor McGregor and his reports.
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‘Mystic Mac’ had last appeared inside the UFC Octagon on July 2021 to complete the ‘Trilogy’ of fights against Dustin Poirier. The fight turned out to be disastrous for the Irishman breaking his shin bone and losing the fight due to a doctor’s stoppage.
A year long break from USADA tests for Conor McGregor
It has been more than a year since ‘Mystic Mac’ stepped his foot inside the Octagon. But unexpectedly, The Notorious One’s time in recuperation also came with a test-free year from the USADA. The MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter revealed that Conor McGregor is the only UFC fighter who has not undergone testing as of 2022.
After cross-referencing the entire active UFC roster with USADA's athlete test history database, I found that Conor McGregor was the lone active fighter, (aside from some athletes who signed after Aug. 1) to not be tested by USADA.https://t.co/vn3W3z5CjQ
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 23, 2022
The USADA was subjected to heavy criticism after Aaron’s Tweet. People like ‘Ariel Helwani’ stated that, just because of that one name missing, the entire role of USADA was being questioned.
Some said that McGregor’s injury is a probable reason due to which he was not tested. But, Chris Weidman‘s USADA visits while being injured rules out that theory as a sound argument.
Michael Chandler didn’t blame USADA for excluding the Irishman
In a recent interview with “MMA Junkie”, Chandler went to say that he “didn’t have any comments” on this issue of USADA excluding McGregor from their testing list.
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CANNES, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Conor McGregor attends as Spotify hosts an evening of music with star-studded performances with DJ Pee .Wee aka Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar, during Cannes Lions 2022 at Spotify Beach on June 20, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images for Spotify)
‘Iron Michael’ also described how he and many other athletes were under the constant vigilance of USADA. He said, “USADA shows up here at the GYM, USADA shows up at my house at 6am”. Chandler stated how the testing process of the USADA was completely random and could happen anywhere in the USA.
He also iterated, “there’s always gonna be criticism” and “I think USADA does a great job”. He appeared to be very supportive of the USADA in this regard.
Chandler also added, “I will say this, they have definitely upped the testing. I’ve given blood and urine the majority of time. I’m happy with it. It’s much better than all the other organizations.”
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Every MMA fan will probably agree that the USADA has played a crucial role in keeping the sports free from prohibited medications. Their constant vigilance has made the sport a lot better, while also decreasing the associated risks with steroids. What do you think about USADA’s contribution towards drug free MMA in the US?
