Former Bellator light-weight title challenger Alexander Shabliy has accepted a six-month suspension handed down by the USA Anti-Doping Company after he examined constructive for a banned substance from an out-of-competition drug take a look at.
USADA officers introduced the suspension on Wednesday.
“Shabliy, 32, examined constructive for examined constructive for recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) as the results of an out-of-competition pattern collected on March 19, 2025,” USADA officers stated in an announcement. “rEPO is prohibited always within the class of Peptide Hormones, Development Components, Associated Substances, and Mimetics underneath the PFL Anti-Doping Coverage (ADP) and PFL Prohibited Record.
“Underneath Part 10.2 of the present model of the PFL ADP, the default interval of ineligibility for using a prohibited substance is six months however may be elevated as much as a yr in sure circumstances. On this case, USADA’s investigation yielded info suggesting Shabliy’s use was not deliberate, and Shabliy supplied priceless cooperation relating to the person who administered the EPO. Shabliy’s six-month interval of ineligibility started on March 19, 2025, the date his constructive pattern was collected.”
Primarily based on his suspension, Shabliy is eligible to compete once more after Sept. 19.
Recombinant erythropoietin is banned always for athletes as a result of the artificial drug can be utilized to extend purple blood cell manufacturing and improve oxygen carrying capability, which clearly helps with cardio and conditioning for fighters particularly.
Shabliy, who now competes underneath the PFL banner, hasn’t fought since he misplaced a call to light-weight champion Usman Nurmagomedov again in September 2024. He’ll now have to sit down out till not less than September 2025 earlier than competing once more.
