Conor McGregor has publicly addressed his use of banned substances following a severe leg injury sustained during a 2021 fight, providing new details on his decision and medical treatment. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star spoke on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Tuesday as he prepared for his first fight in five years, scheduled next month in Las Vegas.
McGregor broke his leg in a widely viewed bout in 2021 and later underwent surgery overseen by orthopedic surgeon Neal ElAttrache, who expressed concern that the injury might not heal properly. According to McGregor and reports, ElAttrache referred him to specialists focused on bone healing who prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) as part of the treatment. While ElAttrache denied directly prescribing the substances, he supported McGregor’s use and provided a letter intended to exempt him from potential suspension. That exemption was never approved by antidoping authorities.
Following this, McGregor voluntarily removed himself from the UFC’s drug testing pool, which freed him from routine urine and blood tests under the sport’s anti-doping program. He then used the banned substances during his recovery. The incident has raised scrutiny from antidoping officials and sparked questions about the ethics of administering prohibited drugs to injured athletes, even in extraordinary circumstances.
On the interview, McGregor described the injury as among the most severe encountered in combat sports and defended his treatment, saying he was willing to take any measures necessary to regain normal physical function. He admitted uncertainty about the specific substances he used but underscored his primary goal was to recover sufficiently to "play with my children in a normal capacity again." He criticized the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for complications surrounding his treatment approach and called the public disclosure of his medical records “shocking.”
Antidoping experts interviewed have stated that they have seen no precedent for the use of powerful banned drugs solely to heal a broken bone. The UFC, meanwhile, issued a statement emphasizing McGregor’s compliance with their drug policies during his five-year absence from competition. The organization also denied any link between McGregor’s case and its recent decision to end its partnership with USADA, asserting that discussions to move away from the agency preceded McGregor’s injury.
Major League Baseball has indicated it may question ElAttrache, who serves as a team doctor for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams and has treated numerous high-profile athletes. The National Football League declined to comment. USADA did not respond to requests for comment. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between athlete medical needs, doping regulations, and regulatory oversight in professional sports.