Conor McGregor calls for Bellator to start drug testing fighters: “It is long overdue”

Conor McGregor is calling for Bellator to start drug testing fighters.

Ever since 2015 when the UFC and USADA partnered for anti-doping testing, many wondered when Bellator would follow suit. However, they have yet to partner with a company to do year-round testing as currently fighters are only tested by the Athletic Commissions during fight week.

So, for Conor McGregor, he believes it is time for Bellator to start doing year-round drug testing.

It is crazy to think @BellatorMMA still do not have a performance enhancing drug testing system in place. It is long overdue time the promotion adopts a reputable testing body in order to keep it’s clean athletes safe! https://t.co/G4w3vzv7mE

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 22, 2020

“It is crazy to think @BellatorMMA still do not have a performance-enhancing drug testing system in place,” Conor McGregor wrote. “It is long overdue time the promotion adopts a reputable testing body in order to keep it’s clean athletes safe!”

Over the past few years, McGregor has not been the only fighter to complain about Bellator’s lack of drug testing. Following Gegard Mousasi’s loss to Rafael Lovato Jr. to lose his middleweight title he claimed Lovato Jr. was on steroids and blasted the promotion for the lack of drug testing.

It is interesting to see Conor McGregor call for Bellator to start doing regular drug testing given he is not in the promotion. However, he does have several teammates in the promotion so it makes sense he wants them to be fighting clean athletes.

Whether or not Bellator will ever use an agency like USADA or WADA to so regular drug testing as McGregor says is to be seen. For now, they will remain using the athletic commissions to administrate drug testing during fight week.

Conor McGregor has agreed to rematch Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on January 23. The Irishman wanted to fight several times in 2020 following his 40-second TKO win over Donald Cerrone but that has yet to be the case. He is also the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion.

Do you think Bellator should start drug testing their fighters regularly as Conor McGregor says?