In this article, we explore five of the most high-profile drug test failures in boxing, each causing significant disruption through fight cancellations, bans, fines, and damaged reputations. Despite the serious consequences, many of these incidents fade from public memory as fighters return to the ring, always backed by hypocritical promoters profiting from their resurgence. We’ll examine the details of these cases, the impact on the fighters’ careers, and the broader implications for the sport. Here are the key cases from recent years:
1. Saul 'Canelo' Álvarez (2018)
Saul Canelo Álvarez, one of the biggest stars in modern boxing, tested positive for clenbuterol in February 2018 ahead of his eagerly anticipated rematch with Triple G, Gennady Golovkin. Canelo claimed the result was due to contaminated Mexican beef, a common issue in the country. Nonetheless, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) handed him a six-month suspension, and the highly anticipated rematch was postponed from May to September. Despite the controversy, Canelo returned to win the fight via a majority decision.
Canelo attributed his positive test to contaminated Mexican meat, saying, “I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises and bothers me because it had never happened to me.” He maintained innocence, emphasizing the unintentional nature of the result.
Clenbuterol
Function: Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator used to treat asthma but is also used illegally by athletes for its fat-burning and muscle-building properties. It enhances aerobic capacity and assists in rapid weight loss.
2. Jarrell Miller (2019)
Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller was scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua for the heavyweight championship in June 2019 at Madison Square Garden. However, Miller tested positive for multiple banned substances, including GW501516, HGH, and EPO, leading to his removal from the bout. He was handed a six-month suspension by the WBA, and his career took a major hit as he lost the opportunity to compete for heavyweight gold.
Miller initially denied the allegations but later issued an apology: “I messed up. I made a bad call. There were a lot of ways to handle the situation and I handled it wrong.” He admitted to making mistakes but emphasized his desire to learn from the experience.
GW501516 (Cardarine)
Function: GW501516 is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist, enhancing fat burning and endurance. It’s sometimes used to improve cardiovascular performance but poses significant health risks.
HGH (Human Growth Hormone)
Function: HGH stimulates muscle growth, cell regeneration, and recovery. It is used to enhance physical performance, reduce fat, and speed up injury recovery.
EPO (Erythropoietin)
Function: EPO increases red blood cell production, which boosts oxygen delivery to muscles, improving stamina and endurance. It’s commonly misused in endurance sports.
3. Tyson Fury (2015)
The 'Gypsy King' Tyson Fury tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, in 2015 after his fight against Christian Hammer. The news surfaced in 2016, months after his victory over Wladimir Klitschko. Fury received a two-year backdated ban in 2017 from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), and during this period, he vacated his titles and took a break from the sport. He returned in 2018 to reclaim his status as one of the top heavyweights.
Fury and his team claimed the nandrolone result was due to eating uncastrated wild boar meat, and he maintained that “I have never taken a performance-enhancing drug in my life and never will.”
Nandrolone
Function: Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid used to promote muscle growth and enhance recovery. It’s popular among athletes to improve performance but is banned due to its unfair advantages and health risks.
4. Alexander Povetkin (2016)
Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin tested positive for meldonium ahead of his scheduled fight against Deontay Wilder in May 2016. Meldonium had been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) only months earlier. The fight was cancelled, and Povetkin received a temporary suspension from the WBC. He was cleared later that year but tested positive for another banned substance, ostarine, in December, which further damaged his reputation.
Povetkin’s team argued that he had stopped taking meldonium before it was banned, stating, “Only a very small trace was found, which shows the substance was from before the ban.” They maintained that Povetkin had done nothing wrong intentionally.
Meldonium
Function: Meldonium is a drug used to treat heart conditions by improving blood flow and oxygen uptake. Athletes use it to enhance endurance and recovery.
Ostarine
Function: Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that promotes muscle growth and fat loss without the negative effects associated with anabolic steroids.
5. Dillian Whyte (2019)
Dillian Whyte tested positive for the banned substance dianabol before his July 2019 fight with Oscar Rivas. Although Whyte was cleared to fight by UKAD after passing a subsequent test, the initial results caused widespread controversy and backlash. Whyte was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, but the situation clouded his standing in the heavyweight division for some time.
Whyte denied the allegations and was later cleared by UKAD. He commented, “I was cleared to fight and I won that fight fair and square. I have always been a clean athlete.” He emphasized that his testing history showed he had no intention of cheating.
Dianabol
Function: Dianabol is an anabolic steroid known for rapidly increasing muscle mass and strength. It helps athletes build size and strength quickly, but it’s associated with serious side effects and long-term health risks.
Other Notable Failures
Here’s a list of 10 other high-profile drug test failures in boxing history:
Roy Jones Jr. (2000) – Tested positive for androstenedione after his fight with Richard Hall.
Shane Mosley (2003) – Involved in the BALCO scandal, using EPO ahead of his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya.
James Toney (2005) – Tested positive for nandrolone after defeating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title.
Fernando Vargas (2002) – Tested positive for stanozolol after his fight with Oscar De La Hoya.
Lamont Peterson (2012) – Tested positive for synthetic testosterone before his rematch with Amir Khan.
Antonio Tarver (2012) – Tested positive for drostanolone after a fight with Lateef Kayode.
Luis Ortiz (2017) – Tested positive for diuretics ahead of a scheduled bout with Deontay Wilder.
Erik Morales (2012) – Tested positive for clenbuterol before his rematch with Danny Garcia.
Julio César Chávez Jr. (2012) – Tested positive for marijuana after his fight against Sergio Martinez.
Felix Sturm (2016) – Tested positive for stanozolol after his victory over Fedor Chudinov.
Famous Quotes From Boxers About PEDs in Boxing:
Many prominent names in boxing have spoken out against the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), though some of these individuals face their own controversies, given rumors and public skepticism about their physical attributes. Despite this, they’ve voiced strong opinions:
Floyd Mayweather: “I want all athletes to be on an even playing field. Let’s clean up the sport.”
Manny Pacquiao: “I’ve never used performance-enhancing drugs and am willing to take any test at any time.”
Lennox Lewis: “Cheating through drugs destroys the integrity of boxing.”
Shane Mosley: “I made mistakes, but I’ve moved on and learned.”
Andre Ward: “It’s frustrating when guys use PEDs. It’s dangerous.”
Oscar De La Hoya: “Drugs don’t belong in boxing.”
Evander Holyfield: “If you have to cheat, it means you don’t have enough confidence.”
Carl Froch: “It’s not fair. It’s dangerous and damaging to the sport.”
Amir Khan: “Everyone should be tested regularly to protect boxers' health.”
George Groves: “Drug cheats tarnish the sport, and there’s no place for them.”
Conclusion
Drug test failures have serious consequences, harming both the fighters and the sport by damaging boxing’s reputation, undermining competition integrity, and casting doubt on past results. While some fighters manage to rebuild their careers, the stigma of a failed test often remains long after fines or suspensions are over. Public interest can shift quickly with clever promotion, but fighter safety and sport integrity should always come first. A strict two-strike system could help: one offense turns all wins to no contests with a two-year ban; a second offense results in a lifetime ban globally and in perpetuity.
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