By Steve Kim
Noted trainer Abel Sanchez has never been one to shy away from ** bold statements or giving his opinion on any subject.
Ask him a question and he'll say what's on his mind.
But when Sanchez - best known for training unified middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin - was asked his opinion on the six-month suspension of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for testing positive for clenbuterol prior to the highly anticipated rematch with Golovkin, he paused.
He said he needed some time to contemplate the question fully and give a complete answer in regards to this situation that has stained boxing.
Canelo was scheduled to face Golovkin on May 5th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He withdrew from the contest after being placed on a temporary suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and on Wednesday the NSAC suspended him for six months for testing positive, twice, for clenbuterol back in February.
A day after being in Las Vegas for the commission hearing, Sanchez released this statement to BoxingScene.com:
"Now that the NSAC has done its investigation and handed down its ruling, it comes up short of helping this sport intent on destroying itself. By it’s regulation the NSAC is restricted in the testing of a fighter on it’s suspension list, (makes no sense), " Sanchez stated to BoxingScene.
"This fighter or others are free to continue their way of life and continue to abuse the system that is trying to regulate and maintain a clean sport, fighters on suspension can then time their cavalier lifestyle to coincide with the known reinstatement dates. Could the NSAC required testing during the suspension period? Absolutely, but why be proactive and help sport.
"The WBC has an opportunity to redeem itself in the eyes of the public, its members, ranked fighters and its fore-fathers, the integrity of this organization and public perception of them can be cured by the WBC upholding their regulations/programs, unannounced VADA testing this fighter on a regular basis, announcing to the public the number of times testing was done per day/week. Testing your favorite son, with the desire to catch if cheating, would show respect to current and past WBC champions, which you claim to support.
"The WBC has suspended/removed other fighters from its rankings, for not cooperating with its drug programs. Continue to be innovative, equally, start testing now, stop talking and proclaiming you care."
2023-10-20 20:59:50
