The sports commission of the state of Nevada opened a process against the Mexican boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, temporarily suspended for doping, which should lead to the cancellation of his fight against the Kazakh Gennady Golovkin scheduled for May 5 in Las Vegas.
According to the document, which was made public, the commission, which gives the green light to boxing matches in the world capital of the game, recommended the suspension of Álvarez for doping.
“The use, ingestion and / or consumption of clenbuterol, voluntarily or not, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation,” stressed commission director Bob Bennett.
Álvarez’s case will be examined at the next commission meeting on April 18.
“Canelo” tested positive in two doping controls when clenbuterol was found in his body in February, during his training camp in Mexico, and was provisionally suspended on March 23 by the commission.
“We respect the Nevada State Athletic Commission process and will present Canelo’s case with determination,” Golden Boy Promotions said at the time in a statement issued by Stefan Friedman.
“In his career, Canelo has tested negative more than 90 times and would never intentionally take any prohibited substance,” he added.
– Contaminated meat? –
«As part of the voluntary tests that ‘Canelo’ Álvarez insisted on prior to the fight on May 5, one of the results was positive for clenbuterol levels, in line with the contamination of the meat that has affected dozens of athletes in Mexico in recent years, “Golden Boy Promotions explained in a statement at the beginning of March.
Clenbuterol is an anabolic drug that is used to increase the weight or muscle mass of an organism.
“I am an athlete who respects sport and this surprises and annoys me because it had never happened to me,” Álvarez had defended.
Golovkin did not believe the version of the contaminated meat and did not hesitate to accuse “Canelo” of doping.
«’Canelo’ is cheating. They’re using those drugs and everyone pretends like it’s not happening. And you keep asking about the meat? It has nothing to do with meat, “said the Kazakh, 35, at his Big Bear camp, east of Los Angeles.
Golovkin and Álvarez already met in September, with a controversial draw that did not satisfy any of them.
“I won that match,” repeated Golovkin and his coach, the Mexican Abel Sánchez.
Scores were 118-110 for ‘Canelo’, 115-113 for Golovkin and 114-114.
Golovkin remains undefeated with a record of 37 wins, no losses and a draw while ‘Canelo’ presents a score of 49-1-2. AFP