JAIME Munguia has been given until July 7 to provide an explanation for his A and B-sample tests, which both returned adverse findings.
It emerged earlier this month that the super-middleweight contender had tested positive for exogenous testosterone, a banned substance, following a Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) test.
As a result, his unanimous decision victory over Bruno Surace last month, which saw him avenge an earlier sixth-round stoppage defeat, has since been placed under the microscope.
Soon after the news appeared, Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs), and his team claimed that the substance was never knowingly ingested, insisting that the development could quite easily be explained by contamination.
But since then, a positive B-sample test result has only added to speculation of his wrongdoing, not least regarding the high-volume nature of his fighting style.
As for a possible punishment, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) – the governing body that oversaw Munguia’s win against Surace – is now responsible for reaching a decision.
Yet despite that, the WBO, a sanctioning body that had little to no involvement in the Mexican’s last outing, has declared that it will also investigate the matter.
According to its show cause notice posted via social media yesterday, the WBO has afforded Munguia 10 days to respond with a written explanation of his positive tests.
Failure to do so may result in a penalty, ranging from a removal from the rankings to a suspension, while the 28-year-old’s expected explanation could equally see him suffer similar consequences.
A suspension, of course, would likely represent a superficial measure which, alongside the BBBoC’s ruling, should, if nothing else, impede Munguia’s licensing with various commissions around the world.
