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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nolan King

9 PFL fighters face suspensions following failed drug tests in Nevada

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.

Scroll below to find out which fighters have been flagged.

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.

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