Movlid Khaybulaev, winner of the 2025 PFL World Tournament featherweight title, is now under scrutiny after failing a drug test.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Khaybulaev has been given a one-year sanction after testing positive for recombinant erythropoietin, a performance enhancer. The drug test failure stems from Khaybulaev’s victory over Jesus Pinedo on August 1 at the PFL World Tournament Finals.
Khaybulaev and his team do not plan to appeal the suspension, and due to the performance-enhancing use of rEPO, it is banned under the PFL rulebook. The suspension is retroactive to August 1, meaning it will end on the same date in 2026.
It’s yet another drug-related controversy linked to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team after 2023 PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov tested positive for a banned substance.
Movlid Khaybulaev’s former rival Brendan Loughnane calls for past losses to be reversed
After news broke of Khaybulaev’s suspension, it didn’t take long for one of his former enemies to intervene.
In a recent post on XKhaybulaev’s former rival Brendan Loughnane reacted to the news.
“I thought he felt a little strong when we fought,” Loughnane wrote on Khaybulaev.
“Does this mean they can wipe out his victory over me too? FFS.”
Khaybulaev defeated Loughnane via split decision in the PFL Featherweight semifinals in August 2021. Loughnane won the 2022 PFL Featherweight Championship by finishing Bubba Jenkins in the finals.
Khaybulaev is undefeated in his professional MMA career through 26 fights, including recent victories over Jeremy Kennedy, Tyler Diamond and Chris Wade. He is one of Nurmagomedov’s best students.
Khaybulaev’s suspension means he is unlikely to be involved in any potential tournament format in 2026. In the meantime, the PFL featherweight division is wide open amid Khaybulaev’s absence.
#PFL #champion #Movlid #Khaybulaev #knocked #foe #USADA #announces #oneyear #ban #BJPenn.com