Report: Conor McGregor under investigation for rape in Ireland

By Keith Idec

The announcement of Conor McGregor's retirement was announced the same day, following the announcement of his arrest in January for an alleged rape committed in December.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Irish authorities had arrested the UFC superstar and former boxer in January after a woman was allegedly raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel. The Times cited four sources close to the investigation of an incident that allegedly took place in December.

The newspaper noted that McGregor was not charged with a crime. Official charges are not generally associated with arrests in Ireland and much of Europe.

McGregor, of Dublin, was released shortly after his arrest after answering questions to law enforcement officials.

This allegation of rape is the latest in a series of legal entanglements for McGregor, 30 years old. The New York Times reported that McGregor was a regular guest at the Beacon Hotel, where the attack would have taken place, and that there was a video footage of McGregor's room.

The Irish media reports since the end of December that an "anonymous athlete" was involved in this incident. McGregor is unable to identify McGregor because the laws of that country prevent him from identifying those accused of rape unless convicted.

A spokesman for Gardai, the Irish police, refused Tuesday to identify the author of the New York Times. A spokeswoman for McGregor told The Times that McGregor's retirement announcement on Tuesday morning had nothing to do with the allegation of rape.

McGregor tweeted this retirement announcement early Tuesday morning: quick announcement for guys, I decided to retire from the sport, previously known as "mixed martial art". I wish all my colleagues success in the competition. I now join my old partners in this company, already retired. Pina Coladas on me guys!

His announcement Tuesday marked the second time McGregor withdrew from mixed martial arts. The former featherweight and featherweight champion of the UFC also announced his retirement in April 2016, to fight twice later that year.

McGregor then played Floyd Mayweather in a 12-round and 154-pound boxing match. McGregor won about $ 100 million for the first boxing match of his career, during which Mayweather defeated McGregor at the technical knockout in August 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

McGregor returned to the UFC 13 months and a half later. Rival Khabib Nurmagomedov beat McGregor by submission to the fourth round on October 6 at the T-Mobile Arena.

The Nevada Athletics Commission suspended McGregor for a period of six months and fined him $ 50,000 for his role in a fight after the fight with coaches Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov was also suspended for six months and fined $ 50,000 for his actions after defeating McGregor.

McGregor's arrest on January 17 for this rape allegation was the first of two this year for him. He was also arrested on March 11 in Miami Beach, where he was charged with robbery and mischief for allegedly stealing the cell phone from a fan trying to take a picture of McGregor.

In July, McGregor pled guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct. During this incident on April 5, McGregor launched a trolley on a bus while making a promotional appearance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for UFC 223.

Two UFC fighters were injured following the poaching of windows by a wagon.

Keith Idec is a senior writer / columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be contacted on Twitter @ Idecboxing.