Ketlen Vieira has been issued a six-month suspension after testing positive in her PFL debut against featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, which she lost by unanimous decision. The banned substance was not disclosed, and Vieira says she did not use it for a competitive advantage, explaining she took medication to treat a knee injury after leaving the UFC drug testing pool. The suspension is retroactive to the fight date, clearing her to return on March 22, 2027. Vieira also missed weight by seven pounds for the Cyborg bout.
Ketlen Vieira has been handed a six-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance following her PFL debut, a unanimous-decision loss to featherweight champion Cris Cyborg. Because the suspension is retroactive to the date of the fight, Vieira is cleared to return on March 22, 2027.
The substance involved has not been disclosed. Vieira says she did not take it to gain a competitive advantage. She explained that she used medication to treat a knee injury after leaving the UFC drug testing pool. Vieira also missed weight by seven pounds for the Cyborg bout.
Vieira's profile
Vieira, a 35-year-old Brazilian who trains with Nova Uniao, now carries a record of 16-5-0. Nicknamed "Fenomeno," she is an orthodox fighter who stands five-foot-eight, or 173 cm, with a 68-inch reach. Her move to the PFL marked a major change after her time in the UFC, and the failed test overshadows what was meant to be a fresh start with a new promotion.
Her statistical profile shows a fighter who is more of a grinder than a volume striker. She lands 2.71 significant strikes per minute at 40 percent accuracy. Her wrestling is a notable part of her game, averaging 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes, along with 0.5 submission attempts over the same span.
Why it matters
- Vieira is sidelined until March 22, 2027, meaning the retroactive ruling effectively counts the time she has already spent out since the Cyborg fight.
- The case highlights the risks fighters face when moving between promotions with different testing programs, as Vieira cites leaving the UFC testing pool as the backdrop to her medication use.
- The weight miss adds a second blemish to a debut that ended in defeat against one of the sport's most decorated featherweights.
Vieira's account frames the positive test as an injury-management issue rather than a performance-enhancement attempt. The suspension is relatively short and runs from the fight date, which allows her to plan a return once it expires.
