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Report: Santos among 4 PFL fighters flagged for banned substances

May 9, 2023 by Jason Cruz Leave a Comment

MMA Fighting reports that Thiagos Santos was among four PFL fighters that failed drug tests from the company’s first event this past April.

Former UFC veteran Thiagos Santos tested positive for banned substances following his fight last month in Las Vegas.  In addition, Krzysztof Jotko, Bruno Cappelozza and Rizvan Kuniev were flagged for banned substances as well. 

The substances were not revealed as the report is based on “multiple people with knowledge of the situation.”  It is likely we will find out at next month’s NSAC meeting.

As pointed out by Adam Martin, Santos had received a jacket from USADA for 50 clean drug tests while in the UFC.  His first fight outside of the company, he gets flagged.

Last March, Thiago Santo received his USADA letterman jacket for 50 clean drug tests in the UFC. A year later, he tests positive for banned substances in his debut with PFL.

You can’t make this kind of stuff up. This is so MMA.

— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) May 9, 2023

Payout Perspective:

It’s obviously disappointing that Santos, presumably a clean fighter through his career in the UFC, is now pegged as using a banned substance. We have yet to hear from his camp on whether this was a mistake or tainted supplement but it does not bode well. Moreover, for PFL, having 4 fighters flagged for potential drug offenses is not a good look for the company.

Filed Under: Drug Testing, Professional Fighters League

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