The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) has issued penalties to seven fighters from the Professional Fighters League (PFL) who tested positive for banned substances during the 2023 season.
During a monthly commission meeting held in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the NAC announced a series of adjudication agreements, resulting in suspensions, fines, and the overturning of certain bout results.
Among the 36 bouts that occurred across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in April, 10 involved fighters who were flagged for prohibited substances. Notably, three of these bouts included both fighters testing positive.
The recent surge in positive tests prompted a response from the PFL management, who publicly expressed their intentions to introduce a testing program akin to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) system implemented by the UFC.
While Bruno Cappelloza, Alejandro Flores, and Krzysztof Jotko had already received their respective punishments during the May event, details regarding the remaining seven fighters' penalties were announced during the Las Vegas meeting.
Mohammad Fakhreddine
Bout: April 1 loss to Marthin Hamlet
Substance: Stanozolol, dronastalone, GW1516
Punishment: 12-month suspension; $6,407.50 fine ($6,000 + $407.50 in fees)
Cezar Ferreira
2023 PFL 3 Las Vegas at the The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, Friday, April 14, 2023. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
Bout: April 14 loss to Denis Goltsov
Substance: Clomiphene, androstanolone
Punishment: Nine-month suspension; $3,489 fine ($3,000 + $489 in fees)
Will Fleury
Bout: April 1 win over Krzysztof Jotko
Substance: Drostanolone
Punishment: Win overturned; nine-month suspension; $3,071 ($2,250 + $821 in fines)
Rizvan Kuniev
2023 PFL 2 Las Vegas at the The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, Friday, April 7, 2023. (Cooper Neill / PFL)
Bout: April 7 win over Renan Ferreira
Substance: Drostanolone, methenolone, boldenone, 19-norandrosterone
Punishment: Win overturned; 12-month suspension; $9,821 fine ($9,000 + $821 in fees)
Thiago Santos
Bout: April 1 loss to Robert Wilkinson
Substance: Clomiphene
Punishment: Six-month suspension; $12,907.50 ($12,500 + $407.50 fees)
Daniel Torres
Bout: April 1 loss to Alejandro Flores (later overturned to no contest due to Flores positive test)
Substance: Drostanolone, amphetamine
Punishment: Nine-month suspension; $2,826 fine ($2,500 + $326 in fees)
Daniel Torres was the lone respondent to join the meeting, and he apologized to the commission for the positive test. The NAC revealed Torres was given a lower-than-usual punishment for his cooperation and ability to provide medical documentation that showed medical need (which he previously did not disclose).
Rob Wilkinson
Bout: April 1 win over Thiago Santos
Substance: Elevated t/e ratio resulting from the androgynous origin of testosterone
Punishment: Win overturned; nine-month suspension; $8,321 fine ($7,500 + $821 in fees)