Taila Santos Suspended Six Months After Failed Drug Test
Failed drug tests are a harsh reminder of the stakes involved in combat sports. Whether in boxing, MMA, or kickboxing, the consequences are severe—and the road back is never easy. Today, we learned that one athlete will spend the next few months watching from the sidelines after a violation of the sport's anti-doping policies. For fighters climbing the ranks or defending legacies, discipline isn't just a virtue—it's a requirement. When that discipline slips, the results are immediate and unforgiving.
According to MMA journalist Damon Martin, former UFC title contender Taila Santos has been suspended for six months by USADA following a failed drug test. Per Martin's report, Santos tested positive for oxandrolone, noroxandrolone, and clenbuterol. The timing explains her sudden withdrawal from the 2025 PFL tournament, where she was slated to compete in the women's flyweight division. She'll be eligible to return to competition on or after September 21.
Taila SantosGetty Images
Before her suspension, Santos competed in the 2024 PFL Women's Flyweight Championship Final, where she faced rising star Dakota Ditcheva. That bout ended in a second-round TKO loss for Santos, crowning Ditcheva the division's champion and $1 million prize winner. Santos was then booked for a 2025 quarterfinal matchup against Juliana Velasquez but was pulled from the tournament following her positive drug test. She was replaced by Ekaterina Shakalova in the updated bracket.
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Prior to joining the PFL, Santos made headlines for pushing then-champion Valentina Shevchenko to the brink at UFC 275, losing a razor-thin split decision. That bout remains one of the most competitive in Shevchenko's reign.
UFC fighter's hands on cageRon Chenoy-Imagn Images
Santos also picked up dominant wins in the UFC against names like Joanne Wood and Molly McCann. Her exit from the UFC followed the expiration of her contract, and while she had remaining bouts, she chose not to re-sign. The reasons for that decision were never made fully public.
Now sidelined, Santos must regroup and refocus before returning later this year.
Related: 'Polishing a Turd' – Eddie Hearn Sends Bold Message to Dana White and the UFC
Related: UFC Veteran Retires After Chaotic End Marked by Controversial No Contests
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