Canelo Alvarez tests positive for banned substance ahead of GGG rematch
Mexican boxing sensation Canelo Alvarez was training for what is expected to be a blockbuster rematch with Gennady Golovkin on May 5. Today however, news broke that may delay the date or cancel all together. Canelo Alvarez tests positive for banned substance read the ticker that rolled across sports news sites.
Alvarez provided urine samples on February 17 and February 20 as part of a voluntary drug test program that both he and Golovkin agreed to as part of the rematch stipulations.
According to a letter from Dr. Margaret Goodman, President of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, both of Alvarez’ tests came back positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol.
Golden Boy Promotions issues response
“As part of the voluntary testing program that Canelo Alvarez insisted on ahead of his May 5 fight, one of his results came back positive for trace levels of clenbuterol, consistent with meat contamination that has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years,” Golden Boy Promotions, Alvarez’s promoter, said in a statement addressing the positive test.
“As Daniel Eichner, director of [the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory], the WADA-accredited lab that conducted the tests stated in his letter [on Monday], ‘These values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination.’ Upon receiving this information, Golden Boy immediately notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Gennady Golovkin’s promoter, Tom Loeffler.”
Alvarez himself then issued a statement:
“I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it had never happened to me,” Alvarez said in a statement. “I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail.”
The May 5 HBO pay-per-view fight is to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first fight ended in controversy as it was built as one of the best boxing matches to take place in this era and then conveniently ended in a draw, prompting a second fight.
Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett said the commission will investigate before determining whether the rematch will occur as scheduled.
