When US President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White announced the White House card, Conor McGregor was the first to announce his return to the octagon. Of course, everyone knew to take the news with a pinch of salt. But when the former two-division champion shared updates on drug tests and also actively promoted himself for the fight, the UFC world got interested once again. Until the Irishman was suspended from the UFC…

Yesterday, the news broke that McGregor was suspended by the CSAD, the in-house agency for the UFC’s anti-doping program, for three whereabout failures in 2024. Although his cooperation with the CSAD helped reduce the standard 24-month suspension to just 18 months, the end date of March 20, 2026, cuts too close to June 14th’s UFC White House. And for one, Chael Sonnen believes it was all deliberate.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he claimed, “I believe Conor was likely where they went. I believe he was likely on the other side of the door. I believe he willfully didn’t answer that door.

“I don’t have evidence of any of that. But if somebody’s asking me the question, ‘Is this an elaborate way to avoid a fight?’ While I lean towards ‘no’, there’s only a few possibilities. And not being where you told them you were, that could happen to a person of Conor’s level. Once. In a lifetime. He’s been accused of it happening three times in a 12-month period. One of them back-to-back days. You tell me, what do you make of it?”

According to the CSAD, McGregor missed tests on June 13, Sept. 19, and Sept. 20. The first, from June, was on the day when White announced that his fight with Michael Chandler. However, he was given a strike because he was nursing his toe injury and not preparing for a fight.

In 2018, the USADA suspended Junior dos Santos, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Marcos Rogerio de Lima for six months for failing drug tests. However, they proved their innocence.

Still, while the violations alone may not indicate intentional avoidance, the pattern raises unavoidable questions about McGregor’s approach and accountability.

McGregor has two fights remaining on his UFC contract, one of which he wants to be the White House fight set for Trump’s birthday on June 14th. Already, he has shown interest in BKFC. And according to BKFC president David Feldman, the Irishman is more than motivated to fight in front of Trump and eventually make a move in his co-owned sports promotion.

However, the error is especially noteworthy for McGregor, whose repeated violations over a 12-month period make this a one-of-a-kind instance in UFC anti-doping history. ‘The American Gangster’ observed that many, generally amateurs with no support teams, emerge sympathetic despite their infractions. “Conor, of course, does understand. Conor has a team,” he noted, adding that the scope of the oversight increases when a celebrity with unlimited resources is involved.

McGregor has always been one to flaunt his testing statuses. Despite the concerns about his physique post the leg break, the Irishman has yet to fail a doping test. This year, he is currently in the UFC’s anti-doping testing pool, with four samples submitted in 2025. Many a time, he has posted pictures of himself giving blood samples to the collection officials, a testament to his commitment to compete again.

So, how did this happen? And is there another motive behind it?

Chael Sonnen has pointed out other methods used by the fighter to try to avoid fighting. Whether it was strategic or simply a team blunder, this situation will follow him until he steps back in the cage. But when will it be? Will the Irishman be able to make it to the White House event?

Even with his 18-month suspension hanging over him, McGregor’s ambitions remain firmly intact. The reduction of his ban to 18 months and his full cooperation during the probe mean that his path to the White House remains open. Moreover, his relations with Trump and White are quite cordial. And even if there would barely be three months to the UFC card after his suspension is cleared, there is plenty of time for him to prepare and make his long-awaited return.

For fans and insiders alike, the message is clear: McGregor’s White House dreams are alive and well, and he’s preparing to make them a reality.