Conor McGregor suspended 18 months for UFC anti-doping violation

Conor McGregor, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, has been suspended for 18 months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for an anti-doping violation. The suspension is retroactive to the date of the violation, which occurred in 2019. The violation was related to the detection of a prohibited substance in McGregor's system, though the specific substance was not disclosed. McGregor has denied any wrongdoing and stated that the violation was the result of a contaminated supplement. The suspension means that McGregor will be eligible to return to the UFC in early 2023, before the scheduled UFC White House card next summer. This suspension is the latest in a series of controversies and legal issues that have surrounded the Irish fighter in recent years. The news has sparked debate within the MMA community, with some criticizing the length of the suspension and others arguing that it sends a strong message about the importance of anti-doping regulations in the sport.