TLDR
- Ketlen Vieira suspended six months for testing positive for a banned steroidal substance after fighting Cris Cyborg on August 22
- Both A and B samples confirmed the presence of the banned substance, according to the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation
- Vieira missed weight by more than seven pounds before the scheduled title fight, forcing it to become a non-title bout
- Vieira told media she took the substance to treat a knee injury and experienced severe pain during weight cut
- Cyborg praised strict testing enforcement and confirmed plans to fight twice more in MMA before retiring
Sources: middleeasy.com | sherdog.com | sports.yahoo.com
Ketlen Vieira has been suspended for six months after testing positive for a banned steroidal substance following her August 22 fight against Cris Cyborg in Tampa, Florida. The suspension comes from the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation, which oversees drug testing for the Professional Fighters League.
Mike Mazzulli, director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation, confirmed to Sherdog.com that both Vieira’s A and B samples showed the same positive result. Mazzulli declined to name the specific banned substance but said the six-month suspension is retroactive to the fight date.
Ketlen Vieira releases statement following 6-month suspension for failed drug test in loss to Cris Cyborg
📰 https://t.co/Gh02iurrmQ pic.twitter.com/9002oyAEsx
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 13, 2026
Fight Already Marked by Weight Miss
The positive test adds another layer to what was already a controversial bout. Vieira missed weight by more than seven pounds before the scheduled title fight, forcing the bout to become a non-title contest at 153 pounds.
Cyborg, who made championship weight at 145 pounds, agreed to take the fight anyway. The 41-year-old champion won the PFL women’s featherweight title by defeating Sara Collins in late 2025.
Vieira told MMAFighting.com on Tuesday that she took the substance to treat a knee injury. She said severe kidney and stomach pain prevented her from making weight before the bout.
The Brazilian fighter spent nearly a decade in the UFC, posting a 10-5 record. Her UFC contract ended after a victory over Jacqueline Cavalcanti in May 2025, and the promotion chose not to re-sign her.
Cyborg Supports Strict Testing
Cyborg called the circumstances surrounding the fight “extremely unusual” in a statement to Sherdog. She thanked Mazzulli and praised strong enforcement of clean sport standards.
“I still accepted the fight and stepped into the cage knowing I would be giving up a physical advantage,” Cyborg said. She described Vieira as noticeably strong during their five-round contest.
The champion also acknowledged her own past with performance-enhancing drugs. In 2011, Cyborg tested positive for a banned substance, served a suspension, and accepted responsibility.
“Since then, I have competed under the most rigorous testing programs in MMA, including testing overseen by Mike Mazzulli and I have continued to pass those tests,” Cyborg said. She added that strict, independent testing protects fighters, the sport, and their legacies.
Cyborg directed respectful words toward Vieira despite the circumstances. “Ketlen, I respect you. I know what it takes to step into that cage. I wish you nothing but success moving forward,” she said.
The Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation replaced USADA as the PFL’s anti-doping partner in 2025. The organization previously handled drug testing for Bellator MMA.
Cyborg has remained unbeaten for nearly eight years since losing the UFC featherweight title to Amanda Nunes. After the Vieira fight, she reconsidered retirement plans and now intends to fight twice more in MMA and once in boxing.
The PFL currently holds matching rights to any contract Cyborg signs. Once that period expires, she can negotiate as an unrestricted free agent.
Vieira was provisionally suspended when notified of the positive test result and requested analysis of her B sample. Both samples confirmed the presence of a banned steroidal substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.
