JAIME Munguia’s team has vehemently denied any prior knowledge, or in fact a suspected involvement from trainer Eddy Reynoso, regarding his adverse finding.
News of the A-sample drug test, conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), arrived last week, casting a dark cloud over the Mexican’s victory against Bruno Surace.
Their first encounter was staged towards the end of last year, when Munguia suffered a stunning sixth-round stoppage defeat at the hands of his previously little-known opponent.
In their rematch last month, however, the 28-year-old produced a far more measured performance – underpinned, as always, by his tremendous punch output – to outpoint Surace.
Naturally, conclusions have since been made regarding the authenticity of his high-volume style, as while we now await the emergence of a B-sample test result, many of boxing’s fraternity have already made up their minds.
At the same time, though, Munguia’s team has issued a statement – following the former world champion’s social media post, whereby he claimed innocence – urging such individuals to consider the possibility of contamination.
Along with that, the official statement suggests that the super-middleweight contender’s other VADA test results – of which, it says, there were multiple – all came back negative.
But the fact of the matter, of course, is that exogenous testosterone – a banned substance – was detected in at least one of his tests.
It has since been highlighted, too, that Munguia’s decision to join forces with esteemed coach Reynoso prior to his victory over Surace is enough to raise further suspicion.
Several fighters – including Canelo Alvarez, Oscar Valdez and Julio Cesar Martinez – have, after all, previously tested positive for performance-enhancing substances while operating under Reynoso’s tutelage.
But again, Munguia’s team has insisted that such observations – linking Reynoso to the adverse finding – are unfounded.
“We also want to clarify that Eddy Reynoso serves only as Jaime’s trainer,” it says in the official statement.
“He is not involved in Jaime’s nutrition, supplementation, or medical oversight. Likewise, no one on Canelo Álvarez’s team has any role in overseeing Jaime’s regimen or is in any way responsible for this situation.
“Any implication that Reynoso or anyone associated with Canelo’s team bears responsibility is entirely unfounded and unfair.
“The only person responsible for overseeing Jaime’s supplements and vitamins is Marco Antonio Pérez Espinoza, who has worked with Jaime since nearly the beginning of his professional career. This is the first time Marco has ever been connected to a situation of this nature, and is fully cooperating in the current review process.
“We have not been informed of the exact levels detected in the initial test, which is a critical piece of information, nor have we received the result of the B-sample, which is currently pending.”
