PFL champion Movlid Khaybulaev suspended for 1 year after positive drug test

Multi-time PFL champion Movlid Khaybulaev has been suspended one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after submitting a positive drug test in competition for his fight back in August when he defeated Jesus Pinedo to claim the featherweight title.

USADA officials announced the suspension on Wednesday.

“Khaybulaev, 35, tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) as the result of an in-competition sample collected at the PFL World Tournament Finals on August 1, 2025,” USADA officials wrote in a statement. “rEPO is prohibited at all times in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics under the PFL Anti-Doping Policy (ADP) and PFL Prohibited List.

“Under Section 10.2 of the applicable version of the PFL ADP, the default period of ineligibility for the use of a prohibited substance is six months but can be increased up to a year in certain circumstances. Here, Khaybulaev received the maximum one-year period of ineligibility because of the nature of the substance and the timing of his positive test.”

Recombinant erythropoietin, better known as EPO, is a banned substance at all times with the drug most commonly used in blood doping to help increase endurance for athletes. EPO increases red blood cell production and it allows the body to transport oxygen to the muscles to help increase stamina.

The positive drug test for Khaybulaev came from an in-competition sample collected by USADA around his win, which is what led to the stiffer one-year penalty being handed down.

Khaybulaev’s suspension officially dates back to Aug. 1 when his sample was collected so he’ll be eligible to resume his career in August 2026.

The 35-year-old Russian has been one of the top fighters in PFL for several years, claiming featherweight tournament championships in both 2021 and 2025. Overall, Khaybulaev boasts an impressive 24-0 record with one no-contest along the way.

There’s no word yet if Khaybulaev’s win against Pinedo will be overturned due to the positive drug test. That’s a decision left up to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which is where the fight took place.