Conor McGregor is suspended for 18 months for failing drug tests

Conor McGregor will have to wait until March 2026 to return to the octagon. The Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), an organization associated with the UFC, announced that the former Irish champion has accepted an 18-month suspension for three violations of the anti-doping policy that occurred in 2024. All of them were due to "whereabouts failures," meaning not being available for scheduled anti-doping controls.

The period of ineligibility began on September 20, 2024, the date of the third violation, and will end on March 20, 2026. According to the official statement, McGregor was in the process of recovering from an injury and was not preparing for any fight during those months. The CSAD highlighted his full cooperation in the investigation and his willingness to take responsibility, which allowed him to receive a six-month reduction from the standard two-year sanction.

McGregor has publicly shown interest in competing during the UFC event at the White House, scheduled for June 14, 2026, although the company's president, Dana White, clarified that there is still no agreement in place for his participation. If confirmed, the fight could mark the Irishman's return to the sport after over four years of absence.

The last time Conor McGregor fought in the UFC was in 2021, when he suffered a leg fracture in his second bout against Dustin Poirier. In 2024, his return against Michael Chandler had been planned, but a toe fracture forced the fight to be postponed. Now, with this suspension, his return to the octagon is officially delayed until 2026.

Throughout the years, Conor McGregor has had several interactions with the world of WWE. Although he has never officially competed in their rings, he has exchanged comments with superstars like Roman Reigns, John Cena, and Becky Lynch on social media, and has even been mentioned in various promos within the programming. In 2020, there were rumors of his participation in WrestleMania, something that ultimately did not materialize. McGregor has stated on more than one occasion that he does not rule out a special appearance in WWE in the future, keeping alive the possibility of seeing him someday blending his UFC charisma with the spectacle of the wrestling ring.