Canelo Alvarez tested positive for trace levels of clenbuterol as a part of voluntary drug testing procedures ahead of his rematch against Gennady Golovkin, which is scheduled for May 5.
Clenbuterol is a well-known performance enhancing drug that has anabolic properties. However, it’s also a drug that has been linked to contaminated meat, particularly in Mexico.
Clenbuterol Levels Consistent with Meat Exposure
That was immediately the reasoning cited by Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions for the positive test. That interpretation was validated by anti-doping officials.
“These values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination,” Daniel Eichner, director of the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, wrote in a letter announcing the results.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission was notified of the positive result, as was Tom Loeffler, Golovkin’s promoter. At the moment, the test result doesn’t appear likely to cause the fight to be called off. However, Golovkin’s camp is leaving their options open for the time being.
“We just found out and we’re going to see how the commission and the sanctioning bodies address it,” Loeffler said to Yahoo Sports. “Any time there is a positive test, it’s a concern, but we’ll rely on them to do their jobs and go from there.”
Alvarez to Train in USA
Alvarez reacted to the news by announcing that he would be moving his training camp from Mexico to the United States, presumably in an effort to avoid further contamination. He has traditionally trained primarily in San Diego, and the remainder of his training for the upcoming fight will take place there.
In a statement, Alvarez appeared more embarrassed than concerned over the test result.
“I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it has never happened to me,” Alvarez said. “I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail.”
According to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), the organization and the Nevada State Athletic Commission are currently planning to continue to test Alvarez so that regulators can make a final determination as to the source of the clenbuterol and the severity of the any violations.
The first fight between Alvarez (49-1-2) and Golovkin (37-0-1) took place last September. While the bout was highly competitive and entertaining, most observers believed Golovkin won the fight in a reasonably close but clear decision.
Instead, the judges declared the fight a draw. While the cards of Dave Moretti (115-113 in favor of Golovkin) and Don Trella (114-114) were widely considered reasonable – if not to everyone’s liking – the 118-110 Alvarez score returned by Adalaide Byrd drew intense scrutiny after the fight.
The perception that Golovkin was the winner of the first fight has carried over into betting on the rematch. The man known as GGG is a -189 favorite to win this May according to bwin, while Alvarez can be backed as a slight underdog at +150. Those who think a second consecutive draw is in the works can back that result at +1800.
