Conor McGregor has been accused of having "different rules apply" to his situation as his row over USADA testing continues ahead of his UFC comeback.
The former two-weight world champion is coming towards the end of his recovery from the broken leg he suffered in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier last summer. He has been out of action for well over a year, and that could hit two years by the time he sets foot into the octagon in 2023.
And he has found himself in a war of words with light-heavyweight Anthony Smith over his reasoning for leaving the USADA testing pool during his time off. The Irishman hasn't been tested in over a year, and won't be, he says, until February - at which point there is dispute over how long he will need to be in the pool in order to return.
McGregor claims he needs to take just two tests before he can book a fight, but USADA's rules seem to indicate he would need six months of testing before being eligible for a bout. This has angered Smith, who himself has dealt with a broken leg, although the Irishman argues his wasn't as severe.
"What bothers me is that guys like Anderson [Silva], Chris Weidman and myself have had bad injuries and we did not have the ability to just step out of the USADA pool, get ourselves healed and come back with no repercussions," Smith said during an appearance on Michael Bisping's Believe You Me podcast.
"Did he break any rules? You [Bisping] played devil's advocate and said, 'technically he's not breaking any rules.' That's because different rules apply to him. I don't have that capability. At least I didn't think. Is that a thing, can we do that? In the USADA bylaws, the only way that you can get out of the pool is if you're no longer under contract with the UFC or you retire."
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McGregor has previously hit out at Smith, saying in a Twitter tirade that the light-heavyweight was keen for his recovery to be incomplete. He said: "This rat spoke to Weidman who’d the same horrific injury and is having severe complications still, is bothered that I was able to heal/return to a normal way of life.
"He, like many other rats in my game, would be happier if I wasn’t able to play with my children the same again. The audacity of this loser! Anthony Smith, you’re a loser. The percentage of the bones joining back after a break like this is so low. You think I give a f**** about anything else. I am the most tested fighter all time in combat sport.
"I give everything to this game. You - Nothing! I thought you broke your leg yourself in your last fight you little dope. You embarrassment of a man! Keep my name out of your f****** mouth. P****."
