Nine PFL fighters face sanctions from the Nevada Athletic Commission after failed drug tests stemming from their first regular season bouts of the 2023 season.
At a monthly NAC meeting Tuesday, three fighters were handed sanctions, while another six had hearings announced and postponed to a later date.
Out of the 36 bouts that took place across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels on April 1, April 7, and April 15, seven featured fighters who were flagged, including two bouts in which both fighters tested positive.
After the reading of the agenda items and announced sanctions, commission members expressed disappointment and concern at the number of PFL fighters who tested positive.
NAC executive director Jeff Mullen mentioned PFL is exploring the possibility of implementing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as a method of cleaning up the promotion.
PFL released the following statement prior to the hearing Wednesday.
“PFL has been notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that several fighters who competed in the two PFL 2023 Regular Season events this past April have been temporarily suspended until further review by the Commission,” it read.
“PFL has a zero-tolerance policy related to the usage of banned substances and complies with the U.S. State Athletic Commission requirements. Further, as the PFL moves towards the highest level of testing and compliance in the sport, PFL is engaged with USADA on the implementation of its athlete anti-doping program.
Alejandro Flores
Bout: April 1 win vs. Daniel Torres
Substance: Furosemide
Sanctions: Suspended six months until Oct. 1; fined $2,926 (includes $326 in legal fees); win overturned to no contest
Krzysztof Jotko
Bout: April 1 loss to Will Fleury
Substance: Clomiphene (B-sample also tested positive)
Sanctions: Suspended six months until Oct. 1; fined $6,826 (includes $326 legal fee)
Bruno Cappelloza
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 Matheus Scheffel
Substance: Drostanolone
Sanctions: Suspended nine months until Jan. 7; fined $11,451 (includes $236 legal fees); win overturned to no contest
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
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
Rizvan Kuniev was present on the phone. However, due to potential connection issues, he did not speak.
Mohammad Fakreddine
Bout: April 1 loss to Marthin Hamlet
Substance: Stanozolol, dronastalone, GW1516
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
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
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
Will Fleury
Bout: April 1 win over Krzysztof Jotko
Substance: Drostanolone
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
Daniel Torres
Bout: April 1 loss to Alejandro Flores
Substance: Drostanolone, amphetamine
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
Torres joined the meeting by phone and admitted to taking both substances. Torres said he used drostanolone prior to his PFL signing. He attributed amphetamine use to physician-prescribed medication he was embarrassed to initially disclose.
Thiago Santos
Bout: April 1 loss to Robert Wilkinson
Substance: Clomiphene
Sanctions: Matter postponed to a later date.
9 PFL fighters face suspensions following failed drug tests in Nevada
Nine PFL fighters are suspended after positive drug tests across three events, including two pairs of fighters who fought each other.
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