TAMPA — Ketlen Vieira has been issued a six-month suspension after failing a drug test in her PFL debut against featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, the UFC veteran confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report from Sherdog. The banned substance was not disclosed, but Vieira said she did not use it to obtain an advantage in the fight, with the suspension retroactive to the date of the August bout meaning she will be cleared to fight again on 22 March 2027.
Vieira missed weight by seven pounds for the clash in Tampa citing kidney and stomach pain during her weight cut and lost via unanimous decision. She said the positive test stemmed from medication taken to treat a long-standing knee injury after parting ways with the UFC and leaving that drug-testing pool, having been signed by the PFL less than a month after beating Jacqueline Cavalcanti in her final UFC fight in May before being booked to face Cyborg in August.
“Throughout my time in the UFC, my team and I were always extremely careful with supplements and medical treatments to ensure there was never any risk of a test detecting a prohibited substance. In 10 years with the organization, there was never a single incident,” Vieira said. “What none of us expected, however, was to be surprised by the great news that I had been signed by the PFL. As soon as we learned about the opportunity, we immediately discontinued all medications, but continued with non-medication treatments.”
Vieira added she believed the time between stopping the medications and the fight meant no substance would appear in her tests, but was informed after the bout that it had. “Since there was no intent to violate any rules on our part, the PFL decided to give me a six-month period to ensure everything is in order before my next fight,” she said, adding her focus is now on maintaining her overall health and keeping her knee in good condition while preparing for her next appearance.