Sulaiman: Canelo cannot be found guilty of doping

By Boxing News - 04/02/2018 - Comments

Image: Sulaiman: Canelo cannot be found guilty of doping

By Dan Ambrose: WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has weighed the facts in the case of Saul Canelo Alvarez’s 2 positive tests for clenbuterol, and he’s determined that he can’t be found guilty of doping.

Sulaiman feels Canelo is only guilty of negligence and ignorance but not of him doping. Sulaiman points out that in the past, Mexican fighters Francisco Vargas and Erik Morales tested positive for clenbuterol, and the Commissions in California and New York cleared them after concluding that the positive tests were due to food contamination.

It’s unclear whether the Commissions in those states made the decision to clear those two fighters based on the levels of the clenbuterol in their system or if they had the receipts for the contaminated meat. If they were only going by the levels of clenbuterol in Morales and Vargas’ positive tests, it’s interesting to know.

It’s not looking good for Canelo to be able to fight for Sulaiman’s WBC belt. The 2 positive tests for clenbuterol could be enough for him to be suspended by the Nevada Commission if they decide that his contaminated meat excuse isn’t a good enough reason for him to be cleared.

If the Commission seeing guilt as Canelo merely testing positive, then they may ignore whether he unintentionally took the substance by eating contaminated meat. The fact is Canelo tested positive twice for clenbuterol. It’s possible that the Nevada Commission may find that they can never really know for sure whether Canelo used the banned substance or not, since the meat has been ingested and is gone.

In a long rambling article by the WBC president, he acknowledges that the 27-yer-old Canelo is responsible for what enters his body, which in this case was clenbuterol. Canelo maintains that he tested positive due to him eating contaminated meat. The Nevada State Athletic Commission will be determining in their hearing on April 18 whether the Mexican star will be given a long suspension or if he’ll be cleared.

“Canelo, specifically and exclusively to this case, may be considered guilty of negligence and ignorance and was careless in his nutrition regime,” Sulaiman said in his article. However, with all the facts and information available to analyze this case, he cannot be found guilty of doping.”

Canelo being guilty of negligence, ignorance and being careless in his nutrition might be more than enough for the Nevada Commission to suspend him. The Commission leaves it up to the athlete to be responsible for what goes into their bodies, and I’m not sure that they feel that ignorance and negligence are good excuses for Canelo to be cleared. Unfortunately for Canelo, Sulaiman isn’t the one of the five Nevada Commission members in their panel that will be at the hearing on April 18. Sulaiman is just giving his opinion, and it’s clear that he believes Canelo should be cleared.

”The levels of clenbuterol found in Alvarez are consistent and lower than other athletes levels from the example as detailed above which were ultimately reported as food contamination,” Sulaiman continued. “Clenbuterol is a natural health issue in Mexico and other countries.”

If the Nevada Commission finds Canelo as being guilty of testing positive twice for clenbuterol, then the chances are that they’re going to suspend him for a period of 6 to 12 months.