Canelo tests positive for PED, blames contaminated meat
Ahead of his much-anticipated rematch with Gennady Golovkin on May 5, Canelo Alvarez tested positive for performance-enhancing drug Clenbuterol, the boxer announced Monday.
Alvarez says he didn't intentionally ingest the substance, attributing the trace amounts detected by the test to contaminated meat in Mexico, where he was training. The director of the lab that conducted the tests said the amount of Clenbuterol found in the sample was consistent with that source.
The 27-year-old Mexican is moving his camp from his home country to the United States and says he will undergo as much subsequent testing as the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association requests.
BREAKING: Canelo Álvarez tests positive for Clenbuterol. Claims it’s down to meat contamination.
— On The Canvas Boxing (@CanvasBoxing) March 5, 2018
Moves training camp from Mexico to USA to avoid same thing happening again.#GGGCanelo in doubt? 🤔💥 pic.twitter.com/NMqZ85OmvD
Athletes use Clenbuterol to rid themselves of fat while retaining muscle mass. The substance - intended for use as a bronchodilator and decongestant for people with breathing disorders - has often been traced back to meat ingested by fighters based in Mexico and China.
The first match between Alvarez and Golovkin ended in a controversial split draw, and it appears that their second match may take place under contention as well.