By Miguel Rivera
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman is stunned by the recent news that Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to two failed doping tests, which were taken in connection with his May 5 world title rematch with IBF, IBO, WBC, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
Canelo, 27, tested positive for trace levels of the banned substance clenbuterol in February, with the Mexican fighter insisting the results were due to eating contaminated beef - a seemingly common problem among athletes from Mexico, where farmers include the chemical in cattle feed to reduce fat and increase lean muscle mass in cows.
Canelo and Golovkin are scheduled to face each other at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in May, in a rematch at the same location of their controversial draw which took place last September.
However, the upcoming showdown has been thrown into uncertainty. Canelo has been summoned to a hearing with the commission, either in person or by phone, next month when a decision will be made over whether the fight goes ahead and to decide if Canelo faces further sanctions.
"Mr. Alvarez is temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission per the executive director for his adverse analytical findings, that being Clenbuterol, on February 17 and 20," a statement by commission executive director Bob Bennett said.
"A commission hearing is scheduled for April 10, 2018 to hear from Mr. Alvarez or for Mr. Alvarez to attend."
Golden Boy Promotions, who promote Alvarez, are confident their fighter will be exonerated and are cooperating with the commission to reach a resolution.
"We respect the Nevada State Athletic Commission's process and will vigorously present Canelo's case throughout," they said in a statement. "Over his career, Canelo has tested clean more than 90 times and would never intentionally take a banned substance."
Suliaman is unsure of what led to the NSAC ** their decision to issue a temporary suspension on Canelo on Friday.
"It is difficult to have a position, since we do not know what the suspension is based on. Our position has been clear in the analysis we made, based on the information we had available. I would not like to enter the realm of irresponsibility because I do not know if Nevada's decision was based on information that we do not have available to make this determination," Sulaiman told A Los Golpes.
''There could be a reconsideration [by the NSAC], unfortunately I have no element that can help me comment. I do not know if there is an appeal, a process where the promoters can ask for an advanced decision, I do not know if it is the move by the NSAC is based on the result of these two tests for clenbuterol [or there is something else], this is exclusive to the Nevada Commission."
2023-10-20 16:16:49
