Marco Antonio Rubio's team says there was no post-fight drug testing last night in San Antonio.
Late last night we talked about Marco Antonio Rubio throwing a PEDs accusation at Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and I said then that I thought it was reckless and kind of stupid, since his claims of Chavez's undying stamina were unfounded, and in a way I still believe in that (the claim seems unfounded, as Chavez clearly tired in the fight and said as much after), but this does change things a bit, and by a bit, I mean a whole hell of a lot.
Rubio says there were no drug tests for the fight, and he's going to file a complaint. And if there were no drug tests for the fight, he should file a complaint, and yes, something stinks here.
As Jake Donovan outlines in the official WBC rules, anti-doping tests are required for WBC title fights:
c) Antidoping Test Required. The anti-doping tests are mandatory for every world title or elimination bout. When a site for a title bout has no anti-doping facilities, a nearby city will be used. The WBC may print a form setting forth the anti-doping tests and procedures and attach it to registered contracts of champions and challengers. An official WBC laboratory may also be established by the WBC. Both champion and challenger shall adhere to these procedures and policies, and mandatory drug testing will be performed pursuant to the WBC Rules and Regulations herein.
This would be the second very strange thing to happen with the WBC and the Texas commission in this fight, as there was also open scoring in the bout, which is a WBC thing, but is not something that happens under the unified rules of the Association of Boxing Commissions, WBC fight or not. In other words, it does not happen in the United States. On the HBO broadcast, Harold Lederman suggested that the Texas commission had been railroaded by the WBC, who simply had the open scoring shown to the corners and not loudly announced that I could tell. There was an on-air shot of Freddie Roach getting a look at the cards in Chavez's corner.
[ Related: Chavez vs Rubio Results Recap ]
But no drug testing? That's something pretty serious. I don't care if the drug testing is effective or not, which frankly it generally isn't. You have to do it. And Rubio is 100% right to pursue a complaint here.
Why no drug testing? The only thing most people are going to think is that Chavez had something to hide and the WBC chose to help him hide it, once again protecting their baby boy, and the Texas commission, which has a questionable history itself, went along for the ride.
WBC dictator Jose Sulaiman was apparently asked by Rubio's team where there was no post-fight drug test, and Sulaiman allegedly replied that they had "totally forgot."
Right. Totally forgot. Everyone involved from the WBC side totally forgot.
0 recs | 32 comments
Didn't Rubio also protest the ref?
I thought if that happened they would normally assign a different one. Then again, with the WBC, who knows? This whole situation is looking like Rubio’s fear of not getting a fair shake was warranted.
tylerj19 - February 5, 2012
He protested the referee when Lupe Garcia was assigned, fearing bias from a Mexican ref and citing the WBC’s so-called requirement of a neutral, international referee in title fights. Honestly I thought Garcia did fine in the fight so that turned out to be no real issue, but this is a much bigger deal.
Scott Christ - February 5, 2012
I’m not saying Garcia didn’t do well, it’s just the premise I have a problem with, not the ref himself.
tylerj19 - February 5, 2012
Right – the ref protest, the open scoring thing, this. It’s just piling up now.
Scott Christ - February 5, 2012
Yeah, you would think they could follow their own rules...
but these sanctioning bodies never really learn, do they?
tylerj19 - February 5, 2012
and if Rubio was really concerned about the ref, he may have addressed his concern by simply protesting. i’m not familiar with Lupe Garcia, but the fact there was a protest might’ve helped him realize he needed to bring his “A” game and try to avoid any shenanigans and avoid a post-fight Rubio “I told you so.”
Still weird, maybe shady, that the WBC/Texas flubbed on a few things.
Sentimental - February 5, 2012
They forgot the drug test? With a fighter who’s previously tested positive? Seriously, that’s their excuse? Man, the WBC better start wiping their e-mail, because I smell a lawsuit coming.
Verklemptomaniac - February 5, 2012
Nah, I’m sure that they will just make Rubio the mandatory Silver/Bronze super champion and slip him some money.
The whole situation stinks really. So WBC just ‘forgot’ to do drug tests for a high profile championship fight, featuring a champion who has already failed a drug test, who had recently been arrested for drink-driving, who was apparently about 4-5 pounds over the weight limit the day before the weigh-in, who looked really pretty bad at the weigh in, but still nevertheless put on over 20 pounds overnight?
I’m not saying that Chavez was on anything. In fact, if Chavez was on something, wouldn’t it have made more sense to just fake some test results? At least then, nobody would know just how useless the WBC are as an organisation, in contrast to them saying that they just ‘forgot’? If they are going to be corrupt, the least they could do is to make an effort to do a good job.
Eoin_not_ian - February 5, 2012
Sounds right to me
Brickhaus - February 5, 2012
These Wild Card fighters sure do stir up a lot of PED talk, don't they...?
As one of the members noted, Jr has been caught using a banned substance before.
Their boy wasn’t in top shape because he was out drinking and driving, and he was facing the best opponent he’d ever been in with…
It’s pretty much a question of common sense at this point.
Lee Payton - February 5, 2012
This is just a theory and I’m not accusing Chavez of anything, buuuut…
That drunk driving arrest from all of two weeks ago is bugging me more now. Maybe there was more than Corona in his system lately.
Scott Christ - February 5, 2012
Didn’t he fail a post fight test a few years ago? It really seems shady now. Especially since we know the weight was an issue.
RRod806 - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
Diuretics
Although, honestly, while it’s not really a PED, that’s what I’d be concerned about here, with Chavez gaining 21 lbs. Pro rata, that’s more than Gatti-Dorin.
Brickhaus - February 5, 2012
Ouch
Maybe it’s about time for chavez to ask for Lance Armstrong’s lawyers phone numbers.
DrHenrik - February 5, 2012
Christ
As in Jesus, not Scott. I know there’s probably more dirty stuff going on in boxing than my feeble mind would like to hear, but is it really too much to ask that people actually be GOOD at covering it up?
On a more serious note, this stinks just like the weird scorecard issue in the Khan-Peterson fight stunk (though that was IBF/WBO, not the WBC, right?). The wretched WBC has some ’splainin to do.
AndrewDM - February 5, 2012
A lot of shady things going on. I thought Rubio was just bitter, but no drug testing, aye? Very shady.
TheDemolitionDan - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
This is bullshit,,, because Chavez has already used an illegal diuretic, furosemide to make weight previously… It is complete and utter bullshit.
And the open scoring… common…. how the hell does shit shit fly?
It is amazing how fucked up things are with boxing…
Zocalo - February 5, 2012
More Texas cooking from the state that ethics forgot.
Matt Miller - February 5, 2012
Wouldn’t they (The boxers, their teams, managers etc etc) and particularly Rubio’s perhaps notice they hadn’t had the tests BEFORE the fight, not after it?? Or am I missing something here?
Phill - February 5, 2012
I think you get tested in the dressing room immediately after the fight.
Kory Kitchen - February 5, 2012
I’ve always heard of testing done immediately after the fight.
RRod806 - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
Ok… Thanks lads, but I thought there were tests leading up to fights too,.
Phill - February 5, 2012
There should be, but that would require paying a little extra money and, you know, the commissions don’t want to do that.
Oli Goldstein - February 5, 2012
it might also lead to calling off the fight right at showtime, and they don’t want to do that even worse.
BoxAnne - February 5, 2012
brilliant move by chavez. the surest way to beat the test. just don’t take it!
jake_ash - February 5, 2012
Can we really think that something´s gonna happen?. Its JCC Jr. No one will do nothing, Sulaiman will fix everything.
jesusacuna - February 5, 2012
Texas and the WBC
Need anyone say more
pakinpower - February 5, 2012
I thought the fight was very good.
I’d like to see a rematch and a protest. Could be grounds for a good match saga.
dasox313 - February 5, 2012
Lesson 2 All fighters. Don’t defend or fight for a WBC strap in texas. unless of course your name is Chavez. First Sweet Pea kicked chavez sr. Ass and settled for a draw. Now this shit!! Fukin bullshit. Texas should be banned hosting anything that is Not a Rodeo.
DiE_HARDFER - February 6, 2012 via mobile
“Totally forgot” to test them
The WBC: staffed by irresponsible students and stoners evidently.
They phrased that poorly if that’s directly quoted.
Joe Landry - February 6, 2012 via Android app
Students and stoners would at least try to come up with a creative excuse. This is just shady and lazy
Waldo Rastel - February 6, 2012
"Totally forgot"
You just can’t make this shit up.
erod - February 6, 2012
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