Conor McGregor confirms he has re-entered USADA’s testing pool ahead of his UFC return… as Irishman claims he will train at ‘high elevation’ prior to bout

• UFC president Dana White claimed McGregor had enrolled in the testing pool 
• The Irishman has now confirmed the news prior to his return to the UFC 
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Conor McGregor has confirmed that he’s entered that USADA testing pool ahead of his highly-anticipated return to the UFC. 

McGregor, 35, hasn’t been in the Octagon since July 2021 when he suffered defeat against Dustin Poirier after breaking his leg during their bout at UFC 264.

The Irishman has been back sparring and training for several months now, as well as coaching in a series of The Ultimate Fighter against Michael Chandler.

However, McGregor has been out of the US Anti-Doping Agency pool since the third quarter of 2021 and must complete six months of random drug testing before being cleared to fight – ruling out a UFC return this year.

But, after months of anticipation, it seems that the ‘Notorious’ will finally be in line to make his return to the octagon after confirmation of his enrolment in USADA’s testing pool. 

UFC star Conor McGregor (above) has confirmed his enrolment in the USADA testing pool 

The Irishman took to social media to make the claim ahead of his highly-anticipated UFC return

On Sunday night, McGregor posted on X: ‘I’m back in the pool. Will be doing my stint at high elevation before the bout’.

McGregor’s next bout will most likely be against rival TUF coach Chandler, with each season’s coaches typically facing off at the end of the show.  

His post came just hours after company president Dana White confirmed paperwork over McGregor’s return had been submitted. 

‘No, he is not officially in the USADA pool. He has submitted the paperwork so probably by Monday he will be submitted,’ White said.

‘Again, don’t hold me to that but the paperwork is submitted so next week sometime.’

White added: ‘I literally have nothing planned with Conor McGregor right now, the paperwork is being submitted.’

USADA also released a statement to this effect: ‘We have recently been in direct contact with Conor McGregor. As he confirmed today in the media, we expect to receive his paperwork coming out of retirement and re-entering the USADA testing pool immediately.

‘Like other athletes who come out of retirement, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, McGregor will be subject to testing for at least six months and must provide at least two negative samples before being permitted to compete. 

‘The purpose of this rule is to ensure that all athletes who are not subject to a period of testing are adequately tested over a reasonable period of time before competing to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.’ 

McGregor will likely fight lightweight star Michael Chandler (R) for his return fight next year

UFC chief Dana White confirmed that paperwork had been submitted ahead of his return

Last month, UFC president White admitted fears that McGregor had lost his ‘hunger’ to fight after reaching such heights in his mixed martial arts career already. 

‘Well, here is what happens Piers, you know this, I am sure you have seen this with colleagues and friends and people that you know,’ White continued. 

‘Once a certain level of money is attained, to be the person that you were coming up, to be that hungry and work that hard and be that dedicated to the sport, or whatever craft it is you do, money changes everything, and Conor McGregor has made that kind of money. 

‘You have to have a certain type of drive to make that kind of money. And you have seen guys in this sport, when they make that kind of money, they will fight a lot less, like Conor has, or they go on losing streaks because you are not that same person once you get that kind of money’. 

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