The reality of the Canelo Alvarez failed drug tests
It’s been almost three weeks since the news of Canelo Alvarez’ failed drug tests for Clenbuterol first surfaced. It’s been almost three weeks of rushing to Canelo’s defense by the sanctioning bodies. It’s been almost three weeks of Canelo supporters telling everyone that’ll listen about the contaminated meat in Mexico.
It’s been two media sessions at Gennady Golovkin’s training camp in Big Bear in which the middleweight champion has been asked about his thoughts on the situation. The first session he was a little more subdued in his responses to the questions but in the second he removed all doubt on whether he believed Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was a cheater or not.
Fans, media and officials seemed somewhat put off by Golovkin’s outspoken outrage and criticism. Yesterday a report surfaced in Boxing Scene in which WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said he was “shocked” with his champion. It’s simply not the Golovkin we know he said.
The fans say “he should pull out if he believes that Canelo cheated”. The media itself has tried to portray an “unbiased” look at the situation, which should be commended. I myself take a lot of pride in my ability to remain objective as a journalist and be fair to all parties involved. But, there comes a time when the truth is more important than remaining “neutral”. This is that time.
On March 6th 2018 I, Christopher Henderson as a representative of 3KingsBoxing.com, along with other members of the media received a statement from Golden Boy Promotions which stated the following:
“As part of the voluntary testing program that Canelo Alvarez insisted on ahead of his May 5 fight, one of his results came back positive for trace levels of clenbuterol, consistent with meat contamination that has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years,” Golden Boy Promotions, Alvarez’s promoter, said in a statement addressing the positive test. “As Daniel Eichner, director of [the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory], the WADA-accredited lab that conducted the tests stated in his letter [Monday], ‘These values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination.’ Upon receiving this information, Golden Boy immediately notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Gennady Golovkin’s promoter, Tom Loeffler.”
Along with that statement I received an copy of the letter pictured below:
This news in and of itself was “breaking” type of stuff, so immediately I along with every other member of the media raced to our laptops everywhere to get the story out.
Well here we are 17 days later and the original letter sent out by Golden Boy has evidently done it’s job. What’s it’s job? Simple, get out ahead of the story and create benefit of doubt for their fighter. Mission accomplished by Golden Boy even if it required misleading the media and fans. After all, Alvarez pretty much is Golden Boy Promotions and as goes Alvarez so goes GBP.
Alvarez himself issued a statement saying he was the victim of “meat contamination” in Mexico. His statement along with the Golden Boy release makes the excuse at least seem plausible, again upon first glance. Of course Alvarez and his team were at least guilty of bad decision making but maybe not cheating.
However, it was revealed earlier this week in an article by Lance Pugmire that Golden Boy chopped the letter from VADA that accompanied their release in the part that contained Eichner’s statement. Eichner had added, “Further investigation is needed to make a final determination,” on the matter “because Alvarez’s Feb. 17 positive sample contained such a higher level than the positive sample collected on Feb. 20.”
The 60-80 picograms (.06-.08ng/ml) that Alvarez tested positive for on February 20th are in line with levels that show up with meat contamination. However, the 600-800 (.6-.8ng/ml) are not, in fact they’re consistent with levels for PED usage of Clenbuterol according to recent studies. A level of 500-800 picograms (.5-.8ng/ml) is expected from PED usage of Clenbuterol.
It’s when you start to dig deeper through research and such that it becomes apparent that Gennady Golovkin and his team should be shouting at the top of their lungs every opportunity they get. You would shout to if you felt cheated, much less cheated and backed into a corner.
If he feels that way “he should pull out”, right? It’s just NOT that simple. There’s laws that obligate him to honor the contract he signed. Laws that unless you’re an attorney specializing in contract law, you’ll never understand. But wasn’t the contract violated once Alvarez failed a drug test? No, not necessarily unless the Nevada State Athletic Commission says so. If Alvarez is cleared to compete by the NSAC in the contracted bout then one Mr. Gennady Golovkin better be in that ring come May 5th.
Basically, Golovkin is awaiting a decision by the investigating agency, NSAC, because that’s what he has to do. His frustration stems from the fact that he feels the situation is being manipulated by both Golden Boy, which has been proven to be correct, and possibly the NSAC, who still has the opportunity to save face by doing the right thing here.
There is a hearing scheduled for today in which Bob Bennett and the NSAC has asked Golden Boy President, Eric Gomez, and Golovkin’s promoter, Tom Loeffler, to attend. Will this meeting produce any results is unknown at this time. Will the commission stand up and do what’s right or will the investigation continue to be ongoing? Possibly ongoing till AFTER May 5th and the money is made?
Mr. Bennett the ball is in your court. In the meantime SCREAM GENNADY SCREAM!!
By: Chris Henderson
