PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev has been sidelined following a failed drug test.
On December 17, 2025, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Khaybulaev accepted a maximum one-year sanction for a violation of the league’s anti-doping policy. The 35-year-old Russian tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO), with the failing sample collected at the ‘in-competition’ period during the PFL World Tournament Finals on August 1, 2025.
rEPO is a banned substance known for increasing red blood cell production, which significantly improves an athlete’s endurance and oxygen carrying capacity. Because of its potent performance-enhancing effects, it is prohibited at all times under PFL rules. While the standard suspension for such violations is often six months, USADA opted for a more severe penalty due to the nature of the substance and the timing of the test.
Khaybulaev looks set to be suspended for 12 months, backdated to August 1, 2025.
The timing of the failed test is particularly damaging to Khaybulaev’s legacy. On the same night the sample was collected, Khaybulaev defeated Jesus Pinedo via fifth-round submission to win the 2025 PFL World Tournament and the $1 million prize.
Typically, in professional MMA, a positive test on fight night leads to the win being overturned to a “No Contest.” While the PFL has not yet officially confirmed if the 2025 title will be vacated, the one-year ban confirms he will not be able to defend his crown in the upcoming 2026 season.
