When did Canelo Alvarez fail a drugs test, what was it for and how long was his suspension?
SAUL ALVAREZ takes on Sergey Kovalev as he bids to claim the WBO light heavyweight title.
But it has not been all plain sailing for the Mexican, having previously been banned for failing two drugs tests.
When did Canelo Alvarez fail a drugs test?
THE MEXICAN star failed two drugs test on February 17 and 20 in 2018.
His rematch with Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin had already been arranged and had to be scrapped following the bombshell, which rocked the boxing world.
Alvarez tested positive for the chemical clenbuterol, which is an asthma prescription-only drug.
It is banned by boxing anti-doping regulations as it is considered a steroid and could be seen as performance enhancing.
But Alvarez claimed that the substance was in his system after eating contaminated meat, which his promoters claims has “impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years”.
GGG had insisted the Mexican cannot stomach looking him in the face with the doping scandal on his conscience.
He said: “I think he simply cannot look into my eyes, and that’s all, because he knows that I am correct with everything.”
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How long was his suspension?
AFTER a hearing, the panel voted to hand Alvarez a one-year ban.
This was backdated to his first bout with Golovkin and expires on August 17, 2018.
Canelo will fight GGG for the second time in Vegas on September 15.
Golvokin’s unified WBA (super), WBC and WBO middleweight titles on the line, whilst he and Alvarez will also fighting for the vacant ring and lineal middleweight titles.