Four fighters, including former UFC contenders Thiago Santos and Krzysztof Jotko, tested positive for banned substances following the first half of the PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight season in Las Vegas.
Four fighters tested positive for banned substances after participating in the first half of the PFL heavyweight and light heavyweight season in Las Vegas. Among those fighters, former UFC title contender Thiago Santos and longtime UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko both debuted under the PFL banner this past April, only to fail drug tests. Santos lost to 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson in the co-main event of PFL 1, while Jotko dropped a decision to Will Fleury on the same card.
In addition to Santos and Jotko, heavyweights Bruno Cappelozza and Rizvan Kuniev also tested positive for banned substances. Cappelozza and Kuniev claimed victories against Matheus Scheffel and Renan Ferreira at PFL 2 on April 7, respectively. The specific substances involved have not been disclosed, nor has the length of suspension each fighter will face.
The future of these four athletes in the PFL is uncertain as they have been pulled from the remainder of the 2023 season. Santos was slated to face Mohammad Fakhreddine on June 8, while Jotko was scheduled to take on Ty Flores on the same PFL 4 card in Atlanta. The next bouts for Cappelozza and Kuniev have yet to be announced by PFL.