By Chris Williams: Oscar Valdez has reportedly tested positive for a banned substance in his A-sample ahead of the September 10th title defense of his WBC super featherweight belt against Robson Conceicao. Valdez still has his B-sample that needs to be tested, which may or may not clear him.
There’s no word from Valdez on what happened with the positive test. In the past, the Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.
The reason for that positive test was Canelo is said to have eaten Mexican beef while in his home country. Obviously, phentermine wouldn’t be something that meat producers would be feeding their livestock.
Oscar Valdez tests positive for phentermine
Mike Coppinger is reporting that Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) tested positive for phentermine in a VADA test. Valdez, 30, is scheduled to defend his WBC 130-lb title against #14 WBC Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) on September 10th in the headliner on ESPN+ at the Casino Del Sol, Tucson.
“Oscar Valdez’s A-sample tested positive for phentermine, a central nervous stimulant. It was not a diuretic,” said Coppinger on Twitter.
It will be a big disappointment for boxing fans if the Valdez-Conceicao fight is canceled due to Valdez’s test. Valdez is coming off a career-best win in stopping WBC 130-lb champion Miguel Berchelt in the 10th round to capture his title on February 20th.
For that fight, Valdez had no problems with him passing drug tests.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Valdez if his B-sample tests positive as well. Obviously, Valdez’s fight with Conceicao will likely be canceled. Then there would probably be a suspension of some sort, and then possibly Valdez being stripped of his WBC 130-lb strap.
Besides the potential suspension of being stripped of his WBC super featherweight title, it would wreck a unification fight for Valdez between him and the winner of the October 23rd fight between WBOC 130-lb champion Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson.
Instead of Valdez fighting the winner of the Herring vs. Stevenson contest in a unification, he would be going into the match as a challenger, putting him in a weakened position in terms of negotiations.
We’ll have to see what happens with Valdez, but obviously, it doesn’t look good for him to be able to defend his WBO title against Robson Conceicao on September 10th.
Getting stripped of his WBC 130-lb title would not only mess up Valdez’s plans, but it would spoil a lot of great fights beyond him facing the Herring vs. Stevenson winner.
Valdez looked better than ever in his last fight against Berchelt, and he surprised many boxing fans with the ease with which he defeated a very good fighter.
Heading into the Berchelt-Valdez clash, fans felt that Berchelt would be too big, too strong, and too talented for Valdez. But boy did Valdez surprise Berchelt.