Overview
- USADA said Khaybulaev tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin from an in-competition sample collected the night of his Aug. 1 win over Jesus Pinedo.
- The agency issued the maximum one-year suspension, citing the substance’s nature and the timing of the positive test, making him eligible to return Aug. 1, 2026.
- PFL disqualified him from the 2025 World Tournament and stripped the featherweight title, championship belt, and associated bonuses.
- The bout took place under New Jersey regulation, and the state commission has not announced whether it will overturn the result to a no contest.
- Khaybulaev’s team does not plan to appeal, while fighters such as Brendan Loughnane publicly called for past results and financial impacts to be revisited.