Tag: Canelo vs. GGG II

Canelo Alvarez has been dealt his punishment for two failed drug tests for clenbuterol.

After his anticipated rematch with rival Gennady Golovkin was called off earlier this month, Alvarez received a six-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) at a hearing today.

Alvarez first tested positive for clenbuterol on February 17, and his six-month suspension is retroactive to that date, meaning he can fight again on August 17 at the earliest. The suspension was handed down as part of an adjudication agreement between executive director Bob Bennett, Alvarez and Alvarez’s team of lawyers according to MMA Fighting.

Alvarez’ team had previously claimed contaminated meat, which has been proven to be a source of trace amounts of clenbuterol in fighters in his native Mexico, was the source of his failed tests, but the commission deemed it a performance-enhancing drug failure nonetheless.

The low levels for which he tested for were consistent with prior contamination, Daniel Eichner, the director of SMRTL lab, which analyzed the samples, backed up that claim.

Now that Alvarez is suspended, Golovkin will now face Vanes Martirosyan on May 5 from the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

The post Canelo Alvarez Receives Suspension For Positive Drug Tests appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Boxing’s biggest fight just got called off.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on March 23 for testing positive for banned substance clenbuterol twice this February, and an official anti-doping complaint was filed against him by NSAC executive director Bob Bennett on March 29.

That put his May 5 rematch with Gennady Golvkin from Las Vegas in jeopardy, and now boxing fans have been forced to swallow the worst possible news.

Word arrived this afternoon (Tues., April 3, 2018) that the fight has been called off when Eric Gomez, CEO of Alvarez’ promotion company Golden Boy Productions, confirmed the news during a media conference call via Brian Campbell of CBS:

Golden Boy's Eric Gomez announces on conference call they are canceling May 5 Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin rematch.

— Brian Campbell (@BCampbellCBS) April 3, 2018

Alvarez’ team has denied any wrongdoing on their fighters’ behalf, instead citing trace amounts of clenbuterol in contaminated meat in his native Mexico where he’s been training. Clenbuterol has been found in tainted meats in Mexico and China, so much so that VADA has had a warning about the scenario for years.

However, it didn’t get Alvarez off of an anti-doping violation, and the boxing superstar will have his chance to plead his case in front of the NSAC on April 18. He faces a potential one-year suspension for a first-time offender, but that could be cut in half in the commission sides with him.

Then, and only then, will fight fans find out if the awaited rematch with Golovkin will happen anytime soon.

The post Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG II Called Off Following Alvarez PED Suspension appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The latest development from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) would suggest Canelo Alvarez’ anticipated May 5 rematch with Gennady Golovkin is in serious jeopardy.

News arrived today (Thurs., March 29, 2018) that NSAC executive director Bob Bennett filed an official anti-doping complaint against Alvarez after he tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol in two pre-fight drug screens.

The complaint revealed that Alvarez will face a suspension of nine to 24 months, although according to NAC regulation 467, section 34, paragraph 1(a), that could be reduced by up to 50 percent (via Yahoo’s Kevin Iole).

Alvarez is set to appear before the commission during their April 18 meeting, where he will be allowed to give a defense for his failures.

Alvarez was in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the time of his failed tests, and cited contaminated meat for the failure. Clenbuterol has been found in trace amounts in meat in several places including Mexico, and VADA has issued a warning about that exact scenario for years.

But the NSAC apparently wasn’t buying that story, at least for now, so Alvarez will most likely face a one-year suspension for his first-time offense, which is consistent with first-time offenders in Nevada. If he were to receive the 50 percent reduction, his suspension would potentially be reduced to six months, putting his earliest eligibility to return at August 18, 181 days after he failed the first test on February 17.

So the May 5 rematch – one of boxing’s most awaited current bouts – is now in serious jeopardy as the complaint against Alvarez detailed that, “Alvarez’s utilization, ingestion and/or consumption of Clenbuterol, whether intentional or not, constitutes an anti-doping violation.”

The complaint also listed that it is an athlete’s responsibility “to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body…”

Golovkin’s team has insisted that they will take another fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 5 if Alvarez is unable to compete.

The post Official Anti-Doping Complaint Filed Against Canelo Alvarez appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.