REPORTS suggest that Jose Benavidez Jr tested positive for cocaine following his fifth-round stoppage victory, which has since been overturned to a no-contest, in February.
The former world title challenger returned to winning ways against Danny Rosenberger, a relatively little-known quantity, while featuring on the undercard of David Benavidez vs David Morrell.
And yet, only now has it been revealed that the WBC world light-heavyweight champion’s older brother had tested positive for a recreational, but nonetheless banned, substance shortly after the bout.
As reported by boxing journalist Dan Rafael, Benavidez, 28-3-1 (19 KOs), has been handed a nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
On top of that, ‘El Phoenix’ was seemingly fined a sum of $3,750 while, less devastating still, being forced to pay $157.04 in prosecution fees.
The A-sample result, meanwhile, appears as though it was detected via a randomised drug testing program approved by the NSAC, rather than the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).
In any case, the career of Benavidez, which was already at risk of fading into obscurity, has most certainly taken an almighty hit.
With the emergence of a no-contest on his record, the 33-year-old has only won one of his last six outings, while defeats against Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia and Jermall Charlo remain far from catastrophic.
Nevertheless, Benavidez now has until October 31 – when his ban comes to pass – to somehow reinvent himself as a formidable middleweight contender.
It is worth highlighting, too, that his brother also tested positive for cocaine back in 2018, which ultimately saw him lose his WBC title and remain out of the ring for just over a year.
