2024 PFL Finalist Taila Santos Suspended 6 Months for Failed Drug Test

There’s now some clarity as to why Taila Santos was unable to take part in the 2025 Professional Fighters League World Tournament.

USADA, the PFL’s anti-doping partner, announced on Wednesday that Santos has accepted a six-month suspension after testing positive for oxandrolone and clenbuterol in an out-of-competition sample collected on March 21. Both oxandrolone and clenbuterol are classified as anabolic agents and are prohibited at all times.

Santos’ suspension is retroactive to March 21, so she will be able to return to active competiton on Sept. 21. The 31-year-old Brazilian was removed from a first-round flyweight tournament bout against Juliana Velasquez on April 11 as a result of the anti-doping violation.

A former UFC title challenger, Santos joined the PFL in 2024, where she bested Ilara Joanne, Jena Bishop and Liz Carmouche to reach the 125-pound final. She then suffered a second-round TKO loss to Dakota Ditcheva at the PFL Championships on Nov. 29. Santos went 4-3 during her UFC tenure, notably falling to Valentina Shevchenko via split decision in a competitive championship clash in June 2022.