Francisco Vargas (left) wars with Takashi Miura. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

The California State Athletic Commission decided to issue Francisco Vargas a temporary boxing license on a probationary basis on Friday after he tested positive for the weight-loss steroid clenbuterol ahead of his June 4 fight with Orlando Salido on HBO.

If Vargas, a junior lightweight titleholder, passes the ensuing drug tests before his fight at StubHub Center in Carson, California, the commission will “strongly consider” granting him a license, Andy Foster, executive officer of the California commission told RingTV.com in a phone interview.

“I would think that if he complies totally and he does everything and he’s negative on all of his tests,” Foster said, “I would certainly think the fight could move forward at that time.”

If Vargas (23-0-1, 17 knockouts) fails another drug test, however, “the fight’s done,” Foster said. Vargas is in the process of moving his camp to California after he tested positive for clenbuterol in his home country of Mexico. Foster noted that Vargas passed random drug testing while he was still in the U.S., and Vargas insists the positive drug test was the result of consuming contaminated meat. Golden Boy VP Eric Gomez, his promoter, said Vargas was tainted after he ingested beef stew prepared by his mother.

Foster said those extenuating circumstances were taken into account when the commission decided to issue Vargas a temporary license on Friday after participating in a teleconference. HBO declined to comment on the situation.

The 31-year-old Vargas captured his 130-pound world title when he rose from a knockdown and a shut eye to stop Takashi Miura in the ninth round on the Canelo Alvarez-Miguel Cotto undercard.

“I think you have to look at the facts that led up to this case,” Foster said. “This is a person who requested VADA do the testing. This is a person who six days earlier when they were in the United States tested clean. Then, they went to Mexico and they tested — and it was a very small amount – but still (he) tested positive. You certainly have to look at that situation and at least kind of give (him) the benefit of the doubt.”

Foster also pointed to the nature of the drug as another reason the commission took a lenient approach to Vargas’ punishment. “Sometimes this drug is used for cutting weight,” Foster said. “Well, we’re six weeks out. It didn’t make sense. There were a lot of things that didn’t add up to me. So we’re going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt with a temporary license and test him multiple times leading up to the fight to see what happens.” Added Foster, “Not every type of banned substance is created equal.”

The question of how quick the drug will pass through Vargas’ system was raised on the teleconference call, and the answer is that it’s different for everyone based on their metabolism Foster said.

Vargas was tested on April 21 by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), and the results came back on Wednesday. Dr. Margaret Goodman, president and chairwoman of VADA said her organization is willing to continue to test Vargas until the California commission makes a “determination of whether a doping violation has occurred. That is not VADA’s role.”

And the commission is allowing Vargas a second chance to prove he is clean. Goodman said VADA can only determine when a doping violation has occurred when the ‘B’ sample confirms the ‘A’ sample or if a fighter waives his right to have the ‘B’ sample tested. In this case, only Vargas’ ‘A’ sample has been tested and Vargas’ camp has not indicated to VADA if they want the ‘B’ sample tested, Dr. Goodman said.

“Bottom line is, we have no role in whether this fight should occur or not,” Goodman said. “That’s just not our role. Our role as a third party agency is to ensure that the testing is carried out to the highest standards.”

Gomez was heartened by the commission’s decision to give Vargas another chance and keep a fight alive that many fans have circled on their calendars. “I’m a boxing fan first, a promoter second,” Gomez said in a phone interview. “I was very excited when I got the fight done. Obviously, this was a big blow and then all this stuff blew up yesterday. But I think (the commission’s ruling) is the best result that could have happened. Vargas wants to prove that he’s 100% clean, and this was an accident.”