The world of boxing was shocked when it was revealed Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez failed two drugs tests prior to his rematch with Genady Golovkin.Canelo tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, which is used as a fat burner by athletes, on two separate occasions when asked to provide samples on February 17 and 20.He claimed his innocence, and that he'd eaten contaminated meat in Mexico, but was forced to pull out of his rematch with Golovkin, which had been scheduled for May 5, with the hearing too close to the date of the fight.The pair battled out a controversial draw in their initial meeting, though it is the general consensus that the Kazakh had quite comfortably done enough to earn victory, but was denied by the judges.After Canelo's failed tests were announced, 'Triple G' revealed that he thought his opponent and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya were both "dirty", and that he believed that they were used before the first fight."Again with Mexican meat? Come on, he said at the time. "I told you, it’s not Mexican meat.

"This is Canelo. This is his team. This is his promotion. Canelo is cheating. They’re using these drugs, and everybody is just trying to pretend it’s not happening.

"You should take a look at the photos and ask a doctor. Ask any doctor. Let him explain what those [muscles] are. It’s better even to use the lie detector. Then there wouldn’t be any silly questions about meat or fruits or chocolate."

And today, Canelo learned his punishment for the failed tests, and he can consider himself lucky.

The Mexican has been banned from boxing for six months, though that ban is backdated to February when he failed the tests.

That is enormously lenient, given how dangerous performance enhancing drugs are in such a brutal sport, where we regularly see fighters suffer from brain damage, and some even lose their lives.

Canelo is now effectively free to fight Golovkin again in September, only a year after their first bout, and has got off very lightly.

In the mean time, Golovkin will fight Vanes Martorosyan and defends his WBC, WBA and IBO world titles on May 5.

And users on Twitter were absolutely enraged about the lack of severity with which Canelo has been dealt.

Amir Khan, who was knocked out by the 27-year-old almost two years ago, called for him to receive a lifetime ban recently.

"If anyone is taking any enhancing drugs then they should be banned 100 per cent, it should not be allowed," he said.

"Otherwise we could all think ‘why don’t we all take it and have that extra edge?'

"Canelo has now failed two drugs test and apparently passed a third, maybe because he got off it. But I do not think it means that he should still be able to fight again.

"It will all come down to what the boxing boards and governing bodies say but, in my opinion, if Canelo fights again then it is a sign to other fighters out there that they will only get a slap on the wrist and it’s OK to do it."

Well, the governing bodies have spoken, and it doesn't appear that they view the use of steroids that seriously.

Golovkin will certainly have a point to prove when they eventually have their rematch, and he will have an enormous amount of support behind him.

In reality, it shows how good the Kazakh is that Canelo felt he had to cheat in order to have a chance of beating him.