Conor McGregor has left the USADA testing pool, leading to controversies — and what looked like admission of using banned substances to “heal” — ahead of a planned 2023 return.
Former UFC champion T.J. Dillashaw seemingly tried to follow suit in what some have called “the McGregor loophole,” as he has notified the organization of his retirement and left the USADA testing pool ahead of a long recovery from shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old was also removed from the rankings.
But as we’ve seen across combat sports, such retirements – especially involving fighters who aren’t as aged for the sport – are usually short-lived.