Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has agreed to serve an 18-month suspension following breaches of anti-doping regulations.
The Irish fighter violated the UFC's Anti-Doping Policy by failing to provide his location for testing on three separate occasions in 2024.
The suspension, imposed by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), has been backdated to September 20 2024, when the third breach occurred.
This means the 37-year-old fighter will be eligible to compete again from March 20 2026.
Conor McGregor did not give his location for three drugs tests
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The timing of his potential return aligns with a significant UFC event planned for the White House on June 14 2026.
The occasion will mark President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and coincide with celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence signing.
The whereabouts failures occurred on June 13, September 19 and September 20 last year.
UFC athletes must maintain accurate location information at all times to facilitate random drug testing procedures.
CSAD acknowledged that McGregor was recuperating from a toe injury during the period when the tests were missed.
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He was not in preparation for any scheduled bout at that time.
The fighter demonstrated complete cooperation throughout CSAD's inquiry, acknowledging his responsibility and supplying comprehensive details that the agency determined were relevant to the testing failures.
His collaborative approach and the specific circumstances led CSAD to reduce the typical two-year penalty for three whereabouts violations by six months.
This marks the first anti-doping breach in McGregor's UFC career.
The fighter has not yet issued a public statement regarding the suspension.
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Conor McGregor's suspension will end in time for him to participate in a UFC event at the White House
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McGregor has been absent from the octagon since July 2021, when he suffered a severe leg fracture during his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.
His planned comeback against Michael Chandler on June 29 2024 was cancelled after he sustained a broken toe on June 13.
Notably, his initial whereabouts violation occurred merely one day after he withdrew from the Chandler bout, marking his first ever withdrawal from a scheduled UFC contest.
The fighter re-entered the UFC's drug-testing programme in August, which typically requires six months of compliance before an athlete can compete.
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McGregor recently announced a temporary withdrawal from social media, stating: "Hey folks online, I'm out of here for a bit, see you again soon! My love, unwavering! Thank you all."
The White House event represents an unprecedented venue for UFC competition, with plans for fights to take place on the Oval Office lawn.
UFC president Dana White has been engaged in discussions to bring this ambitious project to fruition.
Conor McGregor has not been seen in the octagon since 2021
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The event will feature stringent security measures, with attendance limited to approximately 5,000 spectators.
McGregor has emerged as a leading candidate to feature on this historic card, with White pursuing negotiations to secure the Irishman's participation.
During his extended absence from competition, McGregor has faced legal challenges.
In December, a civil court found him liable for assault in connection with a 2018 incident, ordering him to pay £206,000 in damages plus legal costs to Nikita Hand.