TESTING TIMES
Conor McGregor drug tested on luxury yacht by USADA in Med despite retiring before attacking ‘juice head rat’ Nate Diaz
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CONOR McGREGOR was visited by anti-drug testers on a luxury yacht while sailing the Mediterranean - despite pleading that he is retired.
McGregor, 32, is currently holidaying in French island Corsica with his fiancee Dee Devlin and two children, Conor Jr, three and Croia, one.
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But he was given a rude awakening after the UFC's drug testing team, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), arrived to take a random sample from the Irishman.
McGregor, who hung up the gloves in June, tweeted: "What’s going on here @ufc?
"USADA have just arrived to my yacht this morning for testing? I’ve retired guys!
"But go on then, I’ll allow them test me. It’s all natural here baby!
"Forever and always, God Bless Folded hands.
"180km across the Mediterranean Sea tomorrow! LET’S GO!!"
McGregor's third retirement in four years came a month after Henry Cejudo also walked away from fighting.
Cejudo later vacated his bantamweight belt and was wiped from the UFC rankings.
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But McGregor still remains in the promotion's lightweight AND pound-for-pound ratings.
It would suggest he has not notified USADA that he is not an active fighter and as a result exempt from testing.
UFC competitors are required to be tested both in and out of competition with USADA unless they are retired.
Should they plan to make a comeback, they are subjected to six months worth of testing before being cleared to fight.
The UFC can be granted an exemption to the six-month written notice rule in 'exceptional circumstances'.
After WWE star Brock Lesnar made a sudden fighting return in 2016, he was allowed just a three month testing period.
But Lesnar eventually tested positive for estrogen blocker clomiphene in both his pre and post-fight drug tests.
His win against Mark Hunt - who filled an unsuccessful lawsuit against the heavyweight and UFC - was overturned to a no-contest.
Despite enjoying retirement, McGregor has continued to train, as he prepares to take to the sea this month with Princess Charlene of Monaco in order to raise awareness for water safety.
But it has not stopped him from aiming a dig at old rival Nate Diaz - with the pair yet to complete their trilogy bout.
Diaz, 35, became the first man to defeat McGregor, following a shock submission win in 2016.
But he was beaten on points in a thrilling rematch five months later.
Before their first bout, at UFC 196, Diaz made headlines after he claimed: "Everybody's on steroids".
McGregor - who has never failed a drug test - appears to have not forgotten the open jibe made three years ago.
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Following his random testing reveal, he followed up by writing: "Juice head rats @NateDiaz209."
Nate has only ever returned positive drug tests but brother Nick, 37, failed three during his career - all for marijuana.
His last fight, against 45-year-old legend Anderson Silva in 2013, saw the fan-favourite suspended for FIVE YEARS having tested for marijuana metabolites.
Nick eventually had the ban overturned to just 18-months, but has not been in the cage since.
However, his manager announced the UFC veteran wants to make a fighting return in 2021 after completing a test weight-cut.
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After a picture was posted of both the Diaz brothers training recently, McGregor responded: "Line them up."
The Diaz brothers' long-time training partners Jake Shields, 41, and Gilbert Melendez, 38, have both faced past suspensions in the UFC following failed drug tests.
Retired UFC star Conor McGregor enjoys helicopter ride over French riviera
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