By Eric Baldwin: 36-year-old former IBF 168lb champion Lucian Bute (32-3-1, 25 KOs) tested positive recently for the banned drug Ostarine after fighting to a 12 round draw against WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs) on April 30 at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.
Bute now wants his ‘B’ sample to be tested in order to prove that he’s clean. The drug Ostarine is said to improve stamina for athletes using it. The D.C. commission will be testing Bute’s ‘B’ sample on Thursday to see if it’s clean or it contains the same result as the previous test Ostarine showing up.
Thus far, the results of the Jack vs. Bute fight haven’t been changed to a no contest. However, if Bute’s ‘B’ sample tests positive as well, then it’s quite likely that the fight will be ruled a no contest. The fight was scored 114-114, 114-114 and 117-111. Bute appeared to be the much busier of the two fighters, and looked like the stronger and more active guy in the second half the fight. The punch stats didn’t make much sense for the fight because they showed Badou Jack as doing the better work.
“I am surprised and sad about that news,” Bute said via ESPN.com. “I can’t understand how the test could have been positive. I have been tested exhaustively since I was world champion and never tested positive. I have never taken anything prohibited. I trust every member of my team and I am convinced when the B sample will be tested it will prove me right and will turn out negative.”
If the ‘B’ sample does turn out to be dirty like the first sample, then Bute will likely be suspended and fined. It would be a huge blow to Bute’s career because he’s looked very good in his last two fights against Badou Jack and James DeGale.
To be sure, Bute failed to get the victory in both cases, but he showed in those fights that he’s just as good as those fighters. DeGale won the fight over Bute by a 12 round decision, but it was a fight that close enough to be scored a draw despite the lopsided scores in DeGale’s favor.
The World Boxing Council had this to say about Bute in a press release sent out on Thursday:
“The Washington D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission has been handling the process related to Lucian Bute’s positive anti-doping test result for Ostarine. The WBC and the D.C. commission have communicated frequently about that case. The D.C. commission arranged for the opening of Mr. Bute’s ‘B’ sample, which will take place on Thursday. Mr. Bute has designated his representatives, who will attend the opening of the ‘B’ sample container, consistent with the WBC rules & regulations. More information about this case will be made available in days to come.”