Conor McGregor has spoken out against allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his recovery from a devastating broken leg, insisting he simply followed medical advice to regain his ability to walk.
McGregor's Response to PED Claims
The former UFC champion broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier five years ago, underwent surgery, and has not competed since. He is scheduled to return against Max Holloway on July 11. Last week, The New York Times reported that McGregor had removed himself from the drug-testing pool to allow the use of banned substances for recovery.
In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, McGregor addressed the accusations. “I had the most devastating injury you can see in combat sports,” he said. “The whole thing is strange to me; you have an injury like that… you might not walk again. The objective should be to get that athlete, that fighter, who has given his life, his skills, his livelihood for the entertainment of the people and the profit of the company, it should be to get this man back on his feet.”
McGregor criticized the former testing body, USADA, saying: “That was not the case, not with the UFC but with the former body. I find that strange and I find that wrong. All I cared about when I was airlifted out of the arena with my leg hanging off was how am I going to walk again? I feel the game should change to accommodate something like that.”
He explained that his doctors prescribed treatments to ensure his leg would heal properly. “If a doctor is prescribing certain things to come back or you're not going to walk again… there was a 20% chance that the leg doesn't join again and you're left on a wobble forever. F*** this fighting game, are you crazy? I've got children to raise. I took myself out of the pool, listened to my doctor, didn't ask any questions, I don't even know [what I took]. All I wanted to know was what is going to get me back to my feet to play with my children? Then I re-entered the pool and went through the craic again. I've been tested something like 15 times this year and the next below me is like four.”
UFC Statement Supports McGregor
Earlier, the UFC released a statement defending McGregor. “In 2021, Conor McGregor sustained a potentially career-ending injury and sought medical guidance from leading orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who advised the appropriate recovery and rehabilitation protocol,” it read. “As a result, McGregor did not compete for five years and maintained proper communication with our team throughout, remaining in full compliance with the rules of our comprehensive drug program. McGregor has been tested 19 times over the past two years, including 12 times in 2026, making him the most tested athlete during this time.”
The UFC also denied any link between McGregor and its decision to end its partnership with USADA. “Any suggestion that UFC’s decision to end its partnership with USADA was related to Conor McGregor is categorically false. Internal communications and documentation clearly show that discussions regarding a transition away from USADA began months before any conversations involving McGregor. This narrative is a continued attempt by USADA leadership to misrepresent the facts surrounding UFC's unilateral decision to terminate our agreement with them and instead choose to partner with a far more competent, organized, and sophisticated testing group comprised of Drug Free Sport, Combat Sports Anti-Doping, and SMRTL laboratories.”
The statement concluded: “The health and safety of our athletes remain our highest priority. We fully support Conor McGregor and look forward to his return to the Octagon this summer.”
