MLB to Question Dodgers Doctor About Report of Supporting McGregor's PED Use
Major League Baseball has questioned Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers' and Rams' head team physician, following a New York Times report that he supported UFC star Conor McGregor's application to use performance-enhancing drugs during recovery from a severe leg fracture. ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor in July 2021 and later wrote a letter backing a therapeutic use exemption request, which was ultimately denied by USADA. The inquiry raises questions about the conduct of one of sports medicine's most prominent figures, whose patients include Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Tom Brady, and dozens of other elite athletes.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the executive director of medical services for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rams, was questioned by MLB investigators on Friday following a New York Times investigation revealing he supported Conor McGregor's attempt to obtain a therapeutic use exemption for banned substances. ElAttrache performed surgery on McGregor's broken tibia and fibula in July 2021 and subsequently referred the fighter to specialists in bone healing, one of whom prescribed treatments involving banned substances. He also wrote a letter supporting McGregor's exemption application to USADA, though he maintained he did not personally prescribe steroids and was not involved in the consultant's treatment decisions. USADA denied the exemption, and McGregor then withdrew from the UFC's anti-doping program, removing himself from mandatory drug testing. McGregor later received an 18-month backdated suspension from the UFC for testing violations, which expired in June, and he is now scheduled to fight Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329. MLB characterized its interview with ElAttrache as informational rather than a formal investigation, and ElAttrache stated he is comfortable with the process and that his record is 'completely clean.' ElAttrache defended his actions by noting that therapeutic use exemptions exist precisely because some banned substances have legitimate medical applications.
What's missing
The articles do not clarify what specific substances the consulting specialist prescribed or recommended for McGregor, nor do they detail the precise medical criteria USADA used to deny the therapeutic use exemption. It also remains unclear whether MLB has any formal jurisdiction or authority over a team physician's conduct involving non-MLB athletes.
How coverage differed
The New York Post framed ElAttrache's role with the Dodgers as unlikely to be impacted and emphasized his denial of wrongdoing, giving more weight to his defense. The Los Angeles Times provided substantially more detail on ElAttrache's distinguished medical career and patient roster, which could be read as contextualizing or softening the story, while also including more critical voices from the MMA community suggesting McGregor's PED use was an open secret.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
MLB to question Dodgers doctor over report he supported Conor McGregor PED use
Major League Baseball Will Question the Dodgers’s Doctor About Banned Drugs
Dodgers, Rams physician Neal ElAttrache explains referring UFC star Conor McGregor to steroids specialist
Related
UNRWA Fires 70 Gaza Staff Members, Denies Terminations Validate Hamas Allegations
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has dismissed 70 employees in Gaza with immediate effect, citing safety and security risks. The move follows a USAID investigation that referred over 100 UNRWA staff for suspension or dismissal, and longstanding Israeli allegations that significant portions of the agency's workforce have ties to Hamas. The firings mark a significant but contested step in addressing accusations that have dogged the agency since the October 7, 2023 attacks, while UNRWA insists the dismissals are not an admission of guilt.
China's Tungsten Export Controls Ripple Through Global Supply Chains, From AI Chips to Weapons
China's 2025 export restrictions on tungsten have triggered price surges, potential production halts at Japanese semiconductor gas manufacturers, and a push to revive domestic mining in the United States. Tungsten, of which China produces over 78 percent of global supply, is critical to both advanced AI chipmaking and military munitions. The disruptions are exposing deep vulnerabilities in Western and Asian supply chains for a material with few short-term substitutes.
Rain Delays Start of India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI in Dharamshala
Persistent drizzle has delayed the toss and cast doubt over the first ODI between India and Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The meteorological department issued an orange alert for June 12 warning of thunderstorms and hail across parts of Himachal Pradesh, with a 60–70% chance of showers forecast throughout the day. The delay threatens what would have been a historically significant match — the first-ever bilateral ODI series between the two nations.