Exclusive: Ketlen Vieira suspended 6 months after positive test following Cyborg fight

October 13, 2026

Ketlen Vieira has been handed a six-month suspension after testing positive for a banned steroidal substance following her August 22 non-title bout against Cris Cyborg in Tampa, Florida. The suspension, confirmed by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation, applies retroactively to the date of the fight, where Vieira missed the featherweight limit by over seven pounds, forcing the match to be contested at 153 pounds instead of a title defense for Cyborg.

The positive result was confirmed in both A and B samples, marking the first time Vieira faced disciplinary action for a doping violation in her MMA career. The fight itself was a notable event, as Vieira—who had spent nearly a decade in the UFC—stepped into the Professional Fighters League to challenge Cyborg, though her weight cut issues derailed the planned title contest.

Cyborg, who had won the PFL women’s featherweight title earlier in the year, later expressed support for clean sport enforcement, thanking the regulatory body for its rigorous testing program. Vieira’s suspension comes as she navigates a transition period, having left the UFC after a 10-5 record in the promotion, including a decision win over Jacqueline Cavalcanti just months before the PFL fight.