Sergio Martinez shocked at Chavez Jr’s positive test for Marijuana

By Boxing News - 09/21/2012 - Comments

Image: Sergio Martinez shocked at Chavez Jr's positive test for MarijuanaBy Dan Ambrose: WBC middleweight champ Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KO’s) finds it hard to believe that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KO’s) has tested positive for marijuana from their fight last Saturday night in Vegas. Martinez doesn’t want to believe it and hopes that his rematch with the 26-year-old Chavez Jr. can still go through in the first part of next year at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas, as planned by his promoter Lou Dibella.

As quoted by the record.com.mex from Mexican newspaper “The Hobby,” Martinez said “Maybe it’s a misunderstanding. [Hopefully] this does not directly affect a possible rematch between us. It took me by surprise. It’s very sad when an athlete tests positive. Whatever life we have, we have to lead by example…I have no idea what will happen.”

Chavez Jr’s promoter Bob Arum told the LA Times that Chavez Jr. used marijuana three weeks before the Martinez fight to treat insomnia. It sounds like a good excuse except that it wasn’t cleared first by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Chavez Jr. needed to check it out with the Commission before he opted to use the marijuana because they have strict rules forbidding the use of drugs of this kind, as well many others.

Martinez may have to wait for a long time before he and Chavez Jr. are able to fight their rematch. If Chavez Jr. receives a suspension by the Nevada Commission it could be one that is more than 7 months, which is what Chavez Jr. received in the past in 2009 when he was caught using a diuretic for his fight against Troy Rowland. This is now a second positive drug test for Chavez Jr. and it could lead to a long suspension including the loss of a portion if not all of his $3 million purse for the Martinez fight.

If Martinez wants to fight in early 2013, he’s probably going to need to face someone else other than Chavez Jr. There are some interesting opponents he can take on but none anywhere close to being as popular as Chavez Jr.



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