Michael Chandler Not Concerned with McGregor’s Absence from Drug Testing Pool

Michael Chandler is seemingly unbothered by Conor McGregor's lengthy absence from the drug testing pool and the rumors that have accompanied that time away.

McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier in 2021 and dropped out of the drug testing pool in the third quarter of the year. The Irishman was expected to return to action against Michael Chandler last year following the completion of “The Ultimate Fighter 31,” where the two starred as rival coaches.

However, among other moving pieces, McGregor's delay in returning to the testing pool appeared to be a major reason behind his absence from competition. The Irishman went back and forth with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency before returning to the testing pool but not before the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced that the promotion would be parting ways with USADA and partnering with Drug Free Sport International at the start of 2024. USADA pointed to the McGregor controversy for bringing about the change, which was vehemently refuted by UFC executives.

Regardless, McGregor's long absence from testing and the seeming hesitation in returning to the pool was enough to ignite rumors regarding alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. However, Chandler is not concerned with the allegations. It’s worth noting McGregor has never failed a drug test during his UFC tenure.

“Not really. You know I mean everybody is on their own journey and everybody has their different ways that they would do things,” Chandler told TMZ Sports. “Obviously, I’ve always looked at [PEDs] as a crutch. If there was something that somebody would be able to take while they weren’t being drug tested, compared to when they were, to me that would be nothing but a mental hurdle to get over.”

McGregor recently announced that he’ll be fighting Chandler during International Fight Week in June at middleweight. Chandler doesn’t have an issue with fighting McGregor at any weight class.

“I'm cool with whatever weight. The way I see it, Conor and I are within a couple of pounds of each other. So, it doesn't matter if we cut weight all the way down to 155, we fight at 170, or we fight at 185…We're the same size guys. I don't need to bulk up to 200-something pounds to get down to 185, it's just not how I would operate in this training camp. So, I'm excited about it if it is 185.”