Two-time Olympian and current WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez tested positive for the banned substance phentermine.
Disgrace!!! Typical, expected, unfair, arbitrary DISGRACE. There are no rules. Clean sport?? No way, no how. Safe sport? Nope. Fair? No way. #boxing BUSINESS AS USUAL! And it was all left in the hands of the The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission. Really?? https://t.co/GG9eKpR2K0
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) September 3, 2021
However, Valdez’s upcoming bout against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 10 will still go on. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission of Tucson, Arizona, ruled Thursday for the fight to go on.
Collected on Aug. 13, Valdez’s A- and B-samples both tested positive for phentermine. Valdez, 30, found out about the A-sample result on Aug. 28. Valdez found his B-sample on Sept. 2, according to reports.
Sweet Hands Bust Shots
However, the Twitter universe’s positive test took shots at Valdez teammate Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Notably, Canelo’s next opponent, Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant.
Dam shame. Some people want to be great so bad that they cheat and then there’s people who want to be GREAT so bad that they DON’T. Doing that isn’t confidence it’s FEAR! https://t.co/jwrA6A4hBO
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) September 3, 2021
“Dam shame. Some people want to be great so bad that they cheat and then there’s people who want to be GREAT so bad that they DON’T. Doing that isn’t confidence it’s FEAR!”
Plant responded to a tweet from Hall of Famer Andre Ward, who reacted to Valdez’s positive test. However, he took the time to bust shots at his opponent for his positive test history.
Blame It On The Meat
In 2018, Canelo Alvarez served a six-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A pair of doping violations en route to his second fight against Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin.
https://twitter.com/SweetHandsPlant/status/1433597444881666049?s=20
Alvarez tested positive for the weight loss accelerant/stamina elevator clenbuterol. He maintained that he did not knowingly ingest the banned substance. Alvarez claimed the positive tests were due to contaminated meat he ate in Mexico.
“To my fans, I have not let you down. I have always been a fighter with integrity. I am proud of the career which I have had, a career in which I have never done anything illegal to disrespect the sport.”
Twitter Fingers
Current WBC lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney floated boxing trainer Eddy Reynoso’s fault. Reynoso, 2019 BWAA Trainer of the Year, coaches Canelo and Valdez and is responsible for the athletic success of Alvarez.
Na @CANELOTEAM and @Canelo deserve BITCH of the year! All of them are suspect🖕🏻everything out of that camp is intentional. They have the knowledge and experience to know better and the resources to have the best of the best in whatever they want but 🌮or🥩or some🍵is the reason. https://t.co/nnGYMCqAwG
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) September 3, 2021
Other trainers like Robert Garcia have speculated that his team should monitor Canelo’s nutrition better.
However, Plant went full tilt. “Sweet Hands” laid out a case for suspicion of Alvarez’s numerous achievements in boxing.
However, back in 2018, Canelo submitted to hair follicle testing at the request of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The test came back negative for clenbuterol.
Nobody puts ANYTHING in MY BODY with out me getting it approved first by Vada (whose the strictest testing company) at this level and with everything that’s at risk why would I let somebody else play with MY name…SMDH….
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) September 3, 2021
Additionally, the negative result lent credence to Alvarez’s assertion he didn’t willingly take PED’s.
What’s The Science
Used by farmers in cattle feed, notably in Mexico and China, Clenbuterol has caused issues for other athletes. In addition, the NFL Players Association warned its players to avoid eating meat in certain countries.
So after everything a fighter works for and sacrifices your just going to let someone tell you to take something and your just going to take it and not even be concerned that they may be FLUSHING all you’ve accomplished down the drain
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) September 3, 2021
Seattle Seahawks Tackle Duane Brown received a 10-game suspension after testing positive from clenbuterol. Brown claimed he ingested the drug through tainted beef.
As a result, Brown’s suspension from the NFL was eventually overturned.
Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) will face Plant on Nov. 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. The fight will be the first undisputed super middleweight championship ever.
