Major League Baseball stated it has "no concerns" regarding Dr. Neal ElAttrache's treatment of its players after completing an interview with the Los Angeles-based orthopedic surgeon. The league's review followed a New York Times report detailing ElAttrache's support for a therapeutic use exemption for UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
ElAttrache, who performed surgery on McGregor's fractured leg in 2021, denied any wrongdoing. He explained that his role involved writing a letter supporting McGregor's application for a special exemption to use performance-enhancing drugs during recovery, rather than prescribing them. "There are many ‘banned drugs’ on the list which are necessary to medically treat various conditions which occur in people," ElAttrache told The Times, emphasizing the purpose of therapeutic use exemptions.
Dr. ElAttrache is a prominent surgeon known for innovative techniques that shorten recovery times. He has treated numerous high-profile athletes, including Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, and Shohei Ohtani. Recently, he used a new NanoNeedle Scope 2.0 to remove loose bodies from the elbow of Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who resumed throwing 2.5 weeks post-procedure.
MLB's statement affirmed its commitment to due diligence. The league interviewed ElAttrache and reviewed relevant records. It also noted his consistent cooperation with the Joint Drug Program and the absence of any submitted therapeutic use exemption requests of this nature from him or others. Based on this review, MLB considers the matter closed and has no concerns about ElAttrache's adherence to the program's rules and regulations.