Rob Wilkinson Among Seven PFL Athletes Punished for Failed Drug Tests

The fallout from the litany of failed drug tests during
Professional Fighters League’s first leg of the regular season
continued at a Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting on
Monday.

Defending light heavyweight champion Rob
Wilkinson was one of seven fighters who received sanctions from
the NSAC. Wilkinson, who defeated ex-UFC title challenger Thiago
Santos via unanimous decision in the PFL 1 main event on April
1, tested positive for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone
ratio resulting from the androgynous origin of testosterone in
relation to that bout. As a result, he was suspended nine months
and fined $7,500 along with $821 in legal feels. Additionally,
Wilkinson’s victory was overturned to a no contest.

Santos, one of the organization’s high-profile free agent signings,
did not emerge unscathed. “Marreta” tested positive for clomiphene,
an estrogen receptor module, in relation to the bout and was
suspended six months and fined $12,500 along with $407.50 in legal
fees.

Meanwhile, Rizvan
Kuniev tested positive for the following after his unanimous
decision win over Renan
Ferreira at PFL 2 on April 7: drostanolone, methenolone,
boldenone and 19-norandrosterone. Kuniev has been suspended for one
year and fined $9,000 along with $821 in fees. His victory was also
overturned to a no contest.

Will
Fleury tested positive for drostanolone in relation to a
unanimous decision victory against Krzysztof
Jotko at PFL 1 on April 1. The Irish light heavyweight has been
suspended nine months and fined $2,250 along with $821 in fees. His
victory was overturned to a no contest.

Three others who were not victorious at recent PFL events also
received punishment on Monday.

Daniel
Torres test positive for drostanolone and amphetamine in
relation to a loss to Alejandro
Flores at PFL 1 on April 1 and was suspended nine months and
fined $2,500 along with $326 fees. The result of the bout was
overturned to no contest due to Flores failing a drug test and
receiving sanctions at a previous NSAC meeting.

Mohammad
Fakhreddine tested positive for stanozolol, dronastalone and
GW1516 in relation to a loss to Marthin
Hamlet at PFL 1 on April 1 and was suspended one year and fined
$6,000 along with $407.50 in fees.

Cezar
Ferreira test positive for clomiphene and androstanolone in
relation to a loss to Denis
Goltsov at PFL 3 on April 14 and was suspended nine months and
fined $3,000 along with $489 in fees.

All of the aforementioned fighters have been removed from the 2023
PFL season.