The controversial 18-month suspension handed to Conor McGregor by the UFC has drawn sharp criticism from a long-serving veteran of the Octagon.
Former champion Conor McGregor, who is expected to return for the UFC White House card next summer, recently received an 18-month retroactive suspension from the promotion.
This ban was issued due to a breach of the CSAD anti-doping policy, as the Dublin-born fighter reportedly failed to disclose his location for random drug tests on three separate occasions.
However, a former welterweight believes that the retroactive nature of this suspension makes McGregor`s potential participation in the high-profile Washington event deeply unfair.
Matt Brown Criticizes Conor McGregor`s Disputed UFC Suspension
Despite not having publicly addressed the suspension issued by the UFC during his social media break, McGregor remains eager to compete at the White House event next year.
According to former welterweight contender Matt Brown, the UFC`s current partnership with CSAD, following the termination of its agreement with USADA, could create a conflict of interest.
“The UFC manages its own doping control now,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Who`s to say they aren’t allowing certain fighters to use banned substances without disclosure? They could certainly be doing so without comment.”
Brown questioned, “What about Conor`s opponent? Won’t they be asking tough questions? Everyone knows what`s going on. If the UFC oversees doping, and they`re planning a White House card, and then Conor fails a test a week beforehand, will they simply say, `Alright Conor, we can`t reveal anything right now`?”
“What exactly would they do? Would they actually remove Conor from such a high-profile White House event?… It just doesn`t seem right to me.”
Matt Brown Previously Challenged Conor McGregor for UFC Knockout Record
Having retired last summer, the former top welterweight contender Brown has maintained a long-standing rivalry with the ex-two-division champion McGregor.
Brown concluded his career with a spectacular knockout victory over Court McGee the previous year, achieving 13 knockouts in the Octagon, a record he shares with heavyweight Derrick Lewis.
After McGregor acknowledged the Ohio veteran`s achievement, Brown provocatively offered the superstar a chance to break the record by fighting him in a peculiar matchup.
