What is the UFC-USADA loophole? How can fighters like Conor McGregor, TJ Dillashaw, and others take advantage of it?

What is the UFC-USADA loophole? How can fighters like Conor McGregor, TJ Dillashaw, and others take advantage of it?

Conor McGregor (Image Courtesy - MMA Fighting)

USADA or the United States Anti-Doping Agency has taken great efforts to make sure that there is no use of steroids in the combat sports industry. However, even the most stringent set of testing policies happen to have loopholes. Let us take a look at the USADA loophole that may let fighters off the hook for being influenced by PEDs or illegal substances.

It so happens that the USADA loophole that the MMA world seems to be chirping about deals with fighters “retiring” and “unretiring”. When a fighter decides to fight for the UFC, he will have to enroll himself in the USADA testing pool. This will mean that the anti-doping agency will have the allowance to test the UFC fighters at any place, and at any time. UNLESS…they are retired.

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This is where things get tricky. A fighter could retire “officially” and get himself out of the USADA testing pool and come back after a hiatus and jump right back into the pool and test clean despite the possibility of the fighter being under the influence of steroids in his time off. Retirement is very flexible when it comes to UFC and fighting as the fighter never actually is relieved from the contract unless he fights it off.

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Several fighters in the past have announced retirement and then bounced back claiming they have “un-retired”. Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar are two fighters that were under suspicion for using this loophole. In fact, the former heavyweight champion got caught using illegal substances after his fight against Mark Hunt.

According to USADA policy, when a fighter decides to return to fighting after being pulled out of the testing pool, it is required that he/she get tested for a minimum of six months before jumping back into the octagon. However, just like the World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the UFC may grant an exemption to the six-month testing period of the fighter.

Read more: WATCH: Nate Diaz smokes weed in front of USADA official and says “USADA can suck a d**k”

How can Conor McGregor and TJ Dillashaw benefit from the USADA loophole?

TJ Dillashaw
TJ Dillashaw

Recently the former bantamweight UFC champion, TJ Dillashaw unexpectedly decided to retire. This fighter has previously been caught using PEDs during the USADA testing and was temporarily banned from the sport. The sudden retirement of Dillashaw has made fans believe that he is trying to exploit the USADA loophole that might once again help him benefit from PEDs without actually being caught.

Conor McGregor recently after being accused of taking steroids said in his tweet that he will get an exemption from the UFC and USADA which will need him to provide only two clean tests as opposed to the six months of a continuous testing period which might turn out to be strenuous or risky for the fighter if indeed he was under influence of illegal substances during his hiatus. This USADA loophole brings serious questions to the legitimacy of the policy.

Also read: “Looks like his piss melts his knickers” – Conor McGregor rips Joe Rogan for steroid accusations and mocks commentator’s physique

While fighters like Jiri Prochazka are being tested 51 times in a single year, fighters like TJ Dillashaw’s possibility to return to fighting without having to go to the testing period owing to a potential exemption from UFC and USADA sounds baffling. It is also important to remember Dillashaw’s removal from the testing pool/retirement from fighting comes after his devastating shoulder injury which led to a loss in his last fight. McGregor too has been suspected of using steroids following his unreal recovery rate.

Also read: Watch: Paulo Costa hilariously pokes fun at USADA as “SECRET JUICE” makes a comeback