UFC fighter fired after confessing to using steroid

By Hoang Nguyen October 3, 2024 | 11:51 pm PT

Peruvian featherweight fighter Luis Pajuelo-Revilla was fired from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after he admitted to using doping, following multiple test results.

Luis Pajuelo-Revilla during a fight. Photo by Instagram/@luispajuelomma

"Pajuelo-Revilla tested positive for the presence of 19-norandrosterone and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) analysis that reflected values consistent with the exogenous origin of testosterone and its metabolites, both anabolic steroids that are prohibited at all times, in a urine sample that was collected out of competition on Aug. 5, 2024, in Lima, Peru," UFC wrote in a release on Thursday.

On Aug. 21, another sample collected from Pajuelo-Revilla also tested positive for 19-norandrosterone and IRMS. He later admitted the use of deca-durabolin (nandrolone) following the sample collection.

After the return of these results and Pajuelo-Revilla's admission of the use of nandrolone, the UFC terminated his contract.

The Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), which administered drug testing of UFC fighters, handed Pajuelo-Revilla a 24-month ban. He will be able to compete again after Aug. 23, 2026.

Pajuelo-Revilla only had a single match at the UFC before getting released, a submission defeat to Fernando Padilla at UFC Vegas 89 in March. Before that, the fighter nicknamed "Corazon de Leon" was a popular name on the international stage as he competed in the Fusion Fighting Championship and Shooto Brazil.

A prolific finisher, Pajuelo-Revilla had seven knockouts in eight victories.