Report says McGregor used banned drugs in injury recovery

A report alleging that former UFC champion Conor McGregor used banned substances during his recovery from a severe leg injury has sparked a debate over anti-doping rules in combat sports. The allegations, detailed in a recent New York Times article, center on McGregor's rehabilitation following his July 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, where he suffered fractures to his tibia and fibula.

According to the report, McGregor took powerful, banned drugs as part of his medical treatment. His surgeon, prominent sports physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who oversaw the initial leg surgery, wrote a letter in support of McGregor's application for a therapeutic use exemption. This special exemption would have allowed the fighter to use otherwise prohibited substances without penalty. The application, however, was not approved.

Dr. ElAttrache, who serves as the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams, stated he referred McGregor to bone-healing specialists for consultation and was not involved in prescribing medication. He defended the principle of therapeutic exemptions, arguing that many banned drugs have legitimate medical uses for treating serious conditions....