Mexican middleweight boxing star Canelo Alvarez has reportedly tested positive for a banned substance, per a report from The Mirror.
Alvarez was tested before he shares the ring with GGG on May 5th in Las Vegas and the results showed traces of the banned substance, Clenbuterol, in his system.
The Mirror's report suggests the substance is "often uses by athletes to cut body fat while retaining muscle mass during training for big events."
It should be noted that Clenbuterol is oftentimes found in meat in Mexico, and several fighters in the UFC have tested positive for it as well over the years. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) oftentimes lets those fighters off the hook in those situations. The same seems to be happening here ahead of the rematch with GGG.
Canelo had this to say on the matter in an official statement:
"I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it had never happened to me.
"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."
Golden Boy Promotions also had a statement of their own that they released on the controversial matter:
"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.
"As Daniel Eichner, Director of SMRTL, the WADA-accredited lab that conducted the tests stated in his letter today, "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.
"As has been planned, Canelo will immediately move his training camp from Mexico to the United States and will submit to any number and variety of additional tests that VADA deems necessary ahead of and after May 5."
What are your thoughts on Canelo testing positive for PEDs ahead of his rematch against Gennady Golovkin? Do you think that the Mexican star purposely took something that would give him an advantage in the fight? Or was this an honest mistake by the middleweight star? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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