Former UFC title challenger Taila Santos has received a six-month suspension from competition due to a doping violation. The decision follows Santos' notable performances in the Octagon, including a close split decision loss to Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning UFC flyweight champion, at UFC 275.
After her time in the UFC, Santos transitioned to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and competed in the PFL 125-pound tournament last year. She defeated Ilara Joanne, Jena Bishop, and Liz Carmouche, but ultimately fell to Dakota Ditcheva, the tournament champion, in the finals.
Santos was anticipated to participate in this year's PFL flyweight world tournament; however, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) confirmed that she tested positive for oxandrolone and clenbuterol from an out-of-competition sample collected on March 21, 2025. USADA stated, “The period of ineligibility for the use of a prohibited substance is six months.” This suspension began on March 21 and consequently led to her removal from the PFL World Tournament event scheduled for April 11, 2025.
Oxandrolone and clenbuterol are both classified as anabolic agents, which are prohibited in competitive sports. Prior to her bout with Shevchenko, Santos accumulated an impressive record, securing victories over fighters like Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson, Roxanne Modafferi, and Joanne Wood. Her professional MMA record stands at 22 wins and 4 losses.
Following her suspension, Taila Santos will be eligible to return to competition on September 21, 2025.
