Joe Rogan tells ‘jacked’ Conor McGregor he made right call leaving USADA pool as controversy rages ahead of UFC return
UFC commentator Joe Rogan reckons Conor McGregor made the RIGHT call to leave the promotion's drug testing pool.
The Notorious hasn't been in the United States Anti-Doping Agency's pool for well over a year - with his exit taking place in the months after he broke his leg in July 2021.
McGregor's absence from the pool has been a hot topic among fighters and fans as he's undergone a dramatic body transformation during his hiatus from the cage.
But Rogan agrees wholeheartedly with the former two-division champion's decision to remove himself from the pool.
During a recent episode of podcast, he said: "Let’s speculate.
"He got out of the USADA testing pool, this is what I would imagine if I was a pro athlete at Conor’s level, you need help.
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“You’re not going to heal off that just eating mangos and f***ing eating clean, you need some help.
"I would want that person to take something.
"You’d have to consult with an expert sports medicine doctor who would tell you, ‘You want peptides, you want this, you want that.'
"These are things you can’t take when you’re in USADA.
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"You look at Conor after that leg break, he got f***ing jacked."
McGregor, 34, has resumed kicking and sparring and is set to return to the octagon later this year against Michael Chandler.
But Rogan doesn't know if the Dubliner will be the same fighter he once was when he eventually returns.
The 55-year-old said: "I’m hoping Conor’s leg is okay.
"A leg break of that magnitude, Chris Weidman broke his leg in a similar way and he just recently competed in Polaris.
"For two years, he’s been recovering from this shin break, it’s just brutal.
"Some guys never bounce back, they’re never the same.”
A date for McGregor's comeback fight has yet to be finalised as he's yet to re-enter the USADA pool.
UFC and USADA policy requires a fighter to be in the pool for a minimum of six months before they're eligible to compete.
The promotion, however, can waive the requirement and have a combatant make a faster return provided they return two negative tests.
McGregor recently lauded his perfect drug test record in a fiery Twitter rant at USADA.
He said: "I've not lied once. Nor have I tested positive. Ever.
"I have over 70 clean tests under this program, yet they are consistently coming out after I speak in a manner that makes it seem I am lying.
"It's ridiculous. F**k used. You are in The Bin. Over 70 clean tests.
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"Never violated once. I will not be scapegoated by this garbage organization.
"You are not the be-all end-all in this equation USADA."