Alvarez receives one-year suspension, reduced to six months
The Nevada State Athletic Commission unanimously voted today to suspend Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for a period of one year. However, the length of the actual ban will be reduced to six months with him being cooperative with the commission during the investigation. The time period is retroactive to his first failed test, which means he will be eligible to return on August 17th.
The decision by the NSAC comes as no surprise as it’s been speculated for a few weeks this was coming. While it may never be proven whether Alvarez intentionally injested Clenbuterol, the rules leave little room for accidentally injesting banned substances period.
Alvarez tested positive the first time on February 17th, then again on February 20th. Both Alvarez and his promoter Golden Boy issued statements that blamed the failed test on contaminated meat from Mexico, which has caused a myriad of jokes and memes with cows all over social media.
The NSAC decided in March to temporarily suspend Alvarez until an investigation was complete and set a hearing for April 10th originally. That hearing was later rescheduled for today. Today’s hearing almost felt like a mere formality as it’s been accurately rumored now for a few weeks what the commission’s ruling would be.
The fallout and scrutiny from the failed test lead to Alvarez being forced pull out of his scheduled rematch against Gennady Golovkin, a fight that was sure to generate over $100M. The bout has since been cancelled, with refunds given to those who purchased tickets to the event, originally set for May 5th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Whether or not this will tarnish Alvarez’s long term legacy, popularity or reputation is a question that only time will answer. As to whether this will affect his career financially could be determined sooner rather than later as Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told 3KingsBoxing.com that Alvarez will definitely be in the ring on September 15th in a rematch with Golovkin barring unforeseen circumstances.
It’s been a messy process and a bad turn of events for Alvarez and his team. Hopefully, this will be a lesson learned and they’re able to move forward, never to be in this predicament again.
It does the heart good however to see the NSAC do the right thing here and stand by their rules and regulations regardless of who the fighter is or isn’t. Kudos to Bob Bennett and his team for the unanimous vote.
By: Wilson Urena
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