Conor McGregor handed 18-month suspension after missing three drug tests

[p]Irishman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcgregor-conor/zmTtk3ch/"]McGregor[/a], 37, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight and lightweight champion, has accepted the suspension, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) said in a statement.[/p][p]CSAD said McGregor, one of UFC's most bankable fighters, missed three tests on June 13th, September 19th and September 20th last year in a breach of anti-doping "whereabouts" protocols.[/p][p]The agency said McGregor had fully cooperated with its investigation, accepted responsibility and provided information that helped explain why he had missed tests.[/p][p][b]"Despite these mitigating factors, CSAD emphasizes that accurate whereabouts filings and the ability to conduct unannounced testing are essential to the success of the UFC anti-doping protocol,"[/b] the agency said.[/p][embed guid="262ff2dd-9c4d-46f0-a5ab-ce055239a7a1" url="https://x.com/espnmma/status/1975628790718939612" social-type="twitter" /][p]The body reduced McGregor's punishment from the standard period of two years to 18 months, backdating the suspension's start date to September 2024.[/p][p]McGregor will be free to fight again by March 20 next year, potentially leaving him free to fight at a UFC event scheduled to take place on June 14 at the White House next year to coincide with US President Donald Trump's birthday.[/p][p]McGregor has repeatedly indicated he hopes to fight on the White House card, although UFC chief executive Dana White said on Saturday that no fighters have yet been signed.[/p][p][b]"We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet,"[/b] White said after an event in Las Vegas. [b]"You can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card, but nothing is done yet."[/b][/p]