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The rift between Conor McGregor and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) marked a pivotal moment in the enduring collaboration between the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the anti-doping authority. The catalyst for this fracture was the controversial stance adopted by UFC President Dana White, dismissing the significance of USADA's directives and asserting that McGregor would engage in fights by sidestepping established rules.
Effective from the first day of the upcoming year, the UFC and USADA will terminate their longstanding partnership. The unexpected severance prompted bewilderment from figures within McGregor's inner circle, including his trainer and SBG Gym head, John Kavanagh.
Expressing his perplexity over the situation, Kavanagh admitted, "I don't understand it at all. It was all very strange." He went on to emphasize the irregularity of the circumstances, highlighting the absence of prior discussions about such a split.
In an interview on 'The MMA Hour,' Kavanagh acknowledged McGregor's frustration and shared his hopes for the fighter's return to the octagon. He reflected on McGregor's dedication to the sport and his desire to achieve specific goals, emphasizing the limited timeframe given the fighter's age.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the collaboration dissolution, Kavanagh remained optimistic about McGregor's future in the sport. The UFC's decision to part ways with USADA reflects a strategic calculation that the benefits will outweigh the costs over the long term.
The organization appears poised to commence a new chapter in its anti-doping efforts, with a scheduled transition to a different agency on January 1, just a month and a half away. The outcome of this shift remains uncertain, as the UFC embarks on this uncharted territory, leaving observers to anticipate whether the new agency can uphold the standards set by its predecessor, USADA.
The forthcoming period will undoubtedly be crucial in determining the effectiveness and credibility of the UFC's revised approach to anti-doping measures. The latest information says that the popular Irishman will not fight in the fourth month, but most likely he will return to the Octagon in the summer of next year.