Dana White condemned USADA’s announcement of the termination of their partnership with the UFC as a “dirty move” and promised that the promotion will respond to the statement, revealing plans to partner with a new company for handling the UFC’s anti-doping program.
Dana White, the CEO of UFC, expressed his strong criticism towards the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in response to their recent announcement. The CEO addressed USADA’s statement on The Pat McAfee Show, calling it a “dirty move” and “scumbag-ism.” He further stated that the issue would be dealt with by Jeff Novitzky, the UFC vice president of athlete health and performance, and the organization’s lawyer, Hunter Campbell.
While neither Novitzky nor the UFC have released an official statement regarding the split with USADA, UFC officials plan to speak with the media about the matter soon. White assured that the promotion would respond to the CEO of USADA, Travis Tygart’s, statement. Moreover, White revealed plans to collaborate with a new company to handle the UFC’s anti-doping program, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards.
White clarified that he would not be directly involved in the situation with USADA and would leave it to Novitzky. He expressed his trust in Novitzky, who is highly respected in the field of drug testing. As for Conor McGregor, the UFC superstar will continue to undergo drug testing by USADA until the end of 2023. However, it remains uncertain whether he will need to complete the mandatory six months of testing before being cleared to compete again.
White did not provide a specific timeline for McGregor’s return, mentioning potential events like the Super Bowl and UFC 300 as the focus for now. He indicated that McGregor could potentially make his comeback against Michael Chandler in early 2023.