PFL's Khaybulaev Stripped of Title, Suspended for Doping

Movlid Khaybulaev, the 2025 Professional Fighters League featherweight tournament champion, has been stripped of his title and suspended for one year after testing positive for a banned substance on the day of his championship victory. The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced the suspension on Wednesday, following an in-competition sample collected from the 35-year-old Russian fighter during the PFL World Tournament Finals on August 1, 2025, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Khaybulaev had entered the tournament with an unbeaten record of 24-0, including one no-contest, aiming to claim the $500,000 prize and the featherweight crown. His path included a split-decision win over Jeremy Kennedy on April 3 and a unanimous decision against Tae Kyun Kim on June 12, culminating in a fifth-round arm-triangle submission victory over Jesus Pinedo in the final. The positive test detected recombinant erythropoietin, a hormone that boosts red blood cell production and enhances endurance, which is prohibited at all times under PFL anti-doping rules.

In response, the PFL issued a statement disqualifying Khaybulaev from the 2025 tournament. "The Professional Fighters League...