US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) confirmed both Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor would be subjected ‘robust’ drug test ahead of their historic boxing match slated for August 26 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
USADA says the Mayweather vs. McGregor drug-testing program is “consistent” with the UFC’s policy and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Mayweather and McGregor will be subject to no-advance notice, out-of-competition testing “at any place and anytime.”
USADA promises that “latest screening methods and scientific techniques” will be used, including a biological passport that tracks levels over time and flags samples if there are irregularities. “All drug-test samples will be tested for substances like EPO, HGH and peptide hormones, and be subject to carbon-isotope ratio (CIR) screening.”
“The program is consistent with other professional boxing programs USADA has conducted over the years where the athletes agree to robust testing,” Said a USADA spokesperson.
“It primarily focuses on out-of-competition testing, all samples are analyzed at WADA accredited labs and the rules are consistent with the WADA Code and UFC Anti-Doping Policy. And like all our anti-doping programs, we start by educating the athletes and their representatives to ensure they’re properly informed of their rights and responsibilities.”
USADA is the national anti-doping organization in the United States for Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American sport.
Conor McGregor is now a part of two separate USADA drug-testing pools. The UFC lightweight champion remains under the UFC’s anti-doping policy this summer as he prepares to box Floyd Mayweather on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas and will still be tested as part of that USADA-run program.
In addition, McGregor has been placed in USADA’s pool for professional boxers and is subjected to testing there as well, according to a USADA spokesperson.
“Mr. McGregor is subject to both the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (because he’s still an active UFC athlete) and the anti-doping program agreed to for the Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing match,” the spokesperson told MMA Fighting via e-mail.
McGregor has yet to be tested under the boxing program, per USADA’s athlete test history on its website, but he has been tested five times in 2017 under the UFC’s anti-doping policy, including twice this month.
Mayweather has been tested twice this year, both times this month. It was the first time he’s been tested by USADA, per its website, since 2015. Mayweather has been retired since fighting Andre Berto in September 2015.
McGregor was tested 11 times last year and must fill out his whereabouts on a smartphone application to tell USADA where he is daily under the UFC’s anti-doping policy. UFC hired USADA to run its anti-doping program in July 2015.
UFC president Dana White said during the recent MayMac World Tour that he was impressed that Mayweather contractually agreed to all the drug-testing provisions that the UFC and McGregor wanted.
MMA Fighting filed a public records request with the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) to obtain the Mayweather vs. McGregor drug testing contract, but was told that the commission didn’t possess any such public records.
NAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMA Fighting that USADA has not sent the commission a contract and doesn’t have to, but he is aware the agency is conducting testing for the fight. He said the NAC will require the results when they come in.
USADA’s granting Mayweather a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for IV use — without informing the NAC — in relation to a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao drew controversy in 2015, as detailed in an investigative report by award-winning boxing writer, Thomas Hauser.
USADA CEO Travis Tygart responded at the time in a 25-page written rebuttal that Hauser’s report was inaccurate.
