Digest of the Article in the Distinctive Voice of Matthew McConaughey
USADA Ends Partnership with UFC
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has decided not to renew its partnership with the UFC, leading to a scathing response from UFC president Dana White. The eight-year relationship between the two organizations will come to an end on December 31.
USADA's Issues with Conor McGregor's Return
USADA cited the UFC's stance on Conor McGregor's return as the reason for their decision. McGregor recently re-entered the UFC's testing pool, which caused tensions between the anti-doping agency and the promotion. USADA deemed their relationship with the UFC "untenable."
Dana White's Strong Words
Dana White did not hold back in his criticism of USADA, accusing them of "straight-up scumbag-ism." He expressed his displeasure with USADA airing their grievances publicly and promised that the matter would be addressed by UFC executives.
UFC's Future Anti-Doping Protocols
The UFC has not yet announced their plans for anti-doping protocols after their partnership with USADA ends. However, White made it clear that the promotion will not oversee their own drug testing and will instead bring in a third-party company to handle it.
Conor McGregor's Return to the Octagon
With the UFC no longer partnered with USADA from January 1, McGregor will be free to return to the octagon. However, he still needs to pass two drug tests before being permitted to compete. USADA CEO Travis Tygart believes this decision is a blow to fighter's long-term health and safety.
Upcoming UFC Event
The UFC's pay-per-view action will resume with UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi next Saturday. The event will feature a lightweight title rematch between champion Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
