Ray Sefo, President of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), remains determined in the face of recent drug test suspensions that have cast a shadow over the league. His plan is to now invite further scrutiny of the fighters with participation from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the official drug-testing partner of the UFC. The USADA will oversee the playoffs and the season-ending championship event and enforce the strict testing protocol that the UFC requires of its fighters.

Pre-empting any negative allegations in the press, Sefo confirmed that the PFL is seeking to prevent “foul play” in the league, just as the USADA seeks to do for the UFC. Sefo remains adamant that the USADA’s involvement will ensure the highest level of competition, at the same time keeping the athletes safe and the sport clean.

Earlier, several fighters, including former UFC star Thiago Santos and 2023 light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson were banned from the 2023 season following failed drug tests. The fallout from these disbarring events prompted the PFL to sign up the USADA.

The UFC implemented this same testing program of its athletes, and Sefo confirms that this will now be administered to PFL’s sportspersons. Sefo went on to state that the USADA’s involvement would commence in August at the beginning of the PFL playoffs in San Antonio, Texas.

The USADA will also oversee the other playoff events that are taking place in New York on 18th and 23rd August. Unlike these events, no date has been announced yet for the PFL championship finals. In light of what has happened, Sefo plans to avoid any further tainting of the league in its fifth season by leaving no stone unturned and welcoming increased USADA participation.

Since the first PFL show, where a staggering eight fighters failed drug tests, Sefo has made it clear that this is not acceptable and the sport must remain drug-free. In light of these incidents, he outlined that: “we’re going to keep this sport and league clean, we’re going to have the USADA be part of the league, and that’s how it’s going to continue to move forward”.

Sefo has already implemented proactive steps towards this crusade by ensuring USADA’s involvement and enshrining the highest standards of cleanliness and fair play in the PFL.