THE fate of Canelo Alvarez’s May 5 rematch with Gennady Golovkin remains in the balance. It was revealed this week that Alvarez tested positive for clenbuterol, a performance enhancing substance which Canelo’s team put down to contaminated meat in Mexico.
The Nevada Athletic Commission which regulates the bout, scheduled to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is investigating the matter. Executive director, Bob Bennett told Boxing News, “We have received the adverse analytical findings from VADA regarding Mr. Alvarez. We are moving forward with our investigative efforts and it’s premature to make any comments at this time.”
Gennady Golovkin, the WBC, IBF and WBA middleweight world champion, has reacted to Canelo’s adverse finding and called for action. The Kazakh told the Los Angeles Times that “they have to take action in that case, either disqualify him or [deliver] penalties. But if it’s neglected, why do we need a commission? And why talk about tests?
“When you get to this level, people should be watching the skills you muster from yourself, not wonder which laboratory you have.”
Golovkin thinks there is little excuse for this failing. It’s not the first time a Mexican fighter has failed a test due to contaminated meat, Francisco Vargas and Erik Morales are high profile examples in recent years. Golovkin said, “They know what [clenbuterol] is. It’s not something new. There’s lots of precedents.”
Golovkin, like the rest of us, is going to have to wait to see what action the commission does take.
