Ketlen Vieira Breaks Silence After Six-Month Suspension for Failed Drug Test
Ketlen Vieira attributed her failed PFL debut drug test and subsequent six-month suspension to medical treatments for a persistent knee injury.
Ketlen Vieiraā€™s highly anticipated jump to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has hit a major roadblock. Following a grueling promotional debut against the legendary Cris Cyborg at PFL Tampa, the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation handed the former UFC bantamweight contender a six-month suspension after a post-fight drug test flagged a banned steroid.
Now, the Brazilian standout has broken her silence, offering an explanation for the positive result that she claims was completely out of her hands.
Ketlen Vieira Blames Failed Drug Test on Knee Treatment
Before jumping to the PFL, Vieira spent 10 years under the UFC banner, establishing herself as one of the top female bantamweight contenders in the world. Debuting in 2016, the 35-year-old Brazilian built a respected 10-5 record. She officially left the promotion in May 2026 after her contract expired following a unanimous decision victory over Jacqueline Cavalcanti.
She shared her perspective in a statement to MMA Fighting, detailing how she used her time between contracts to handle a long-running physical issue. Once she became a free agent, she chose to treat a knee injury using medical methods that were restricted under active UFC guidelines.
She emphasized that she and her team were always careful with her medical care during her 10 years with the UFC, which is why she never failed a drug test there.
"In 10 years with the organization, there was never a single incident," Vieira stated. "However, after leaving the UFC and becoming a free agent, I had the opportunity to take a more comprehensive approach to my health and undergo medical treatment for a knee injury that I had been monitoring for a long time."
Despite her explanation, regulator director Mike Mazzulli told Sherdog that both the A and B samples from her post-fight test flagged the same banned steroidal substance. Because the commission made the suspension retroactive to the night of the fight, Vieira is officially cleared to return to competition on March 22, 2027.
Ketlen Vieira Stopped Meds After PFL Deal
Vieira explained that she stopped taking all medications once she signed with the PFL. She fully believed enough time would pass before her debut to clear her system. Neither Vieira nor the regulators have named the specific substance that was flagged.
"I believed that given the time between stopping the medications and my fight, there would be no possibility of any substance showing up in my tests," Vieira stated. "However, after the fight, we were informed that this had occurred."
The drug test failure capped off a rough promotional debut where the 34-year-old also missed weight by 7.2 pounds before losing a five-round decision to the 41-year-old Cyborg.
Cyborg thanked the athletic commission for keeping the sport clean, while explicitly noting her respect for Vieira. To show transparency, she even acknowledged her own 2011 drug testing violation in the same post.
While Vieira claims she had no bad intentions, athletic commissions hold fighters strictly responsible for what is in their system. Since her suspension started on the night of the fight, she is now focusing on her knee rehab and preparing for her next appearance.
