RingTV.com erroneously reported IBF junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson has allegedly tested positive for the substance human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), according to a source familiar with the fighter's post-fight results following his TKO of ex-beltolder Kendall Holt at the D.C. Amory in Washington, D.C, last month.

The hormone hCG is produced by the fertilized egg after conception, according to Wikipedia.org, which also also states that in "the world of performance-enhancing drugs, hCG is increasingly used in combination with various anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) cycles. As a result, hCG is included in some sports' illegal drug lists.

"When exogenous AAS are put into the male body, natural negative-feedback loops cause the body to shut down its own production of testosterone via shutdown of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA). This causes testicular atrophy, among other things. hCG is commonly used during and after steroid cycles to maintain and restore testicular size as well as normal testosterone production."

In May of 2009, Los Angeles' Dodgers Manny Ramirez was issued a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball for using HCG. Ramirez claimed that he was using hCG, which can be used as a method for weight loss, based on a doctor's reccommendation.

The allegation that Peterson tested positive for hCG is in contrast to the information that was initially released to to IBF President Daryl Peoples on Wednesday by Sheldon J. Brown, the D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission's administrator.

Followng Peterson's victory over Holt on Feb. 22, Brown had informed both camps that Peterson's results had returned negative, according to a written notification from Brown that was issued to both fighters' camps.

The urine tests were administered by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) affiliate based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Brown's notification alone, however, referring to the negative testing had not been assurance enough, at least, for Peoples and Holt's attorney, Pat English, who had demanded to see the official documents that were received by Peoples on Wednesday, according to IBF public relations director Jeanette Salazar.

English and Peoples had insisted on clarity given Peterson's failed drug test last March that was contractually administered at Peterson's request by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

Peterson came up dirty for synthetic testosterone, which forced the cancelation of a rematch wiith Amir Khan, from whom he won his current belt in December of 2011 — one month after having received the testosterone injections.

Although the WBA stripped Peterson in the wake of his infraction, the IBF stuck by him after a review of his medical records by IBF-appointed doctors ruled that the testosterone levels discovered in Peterson were not at a level that would enhance his performance.

Having signed with Golden Boy Promotions in January, Peterson is scheduled to make a defense of his belt against RING No. 1-rated 140-pounder Lucas Matthysse on May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Showtime.

Neither Peoples, Brown, nor members of the fighters' camps could be reached for an immediate comment, but Peterson may likely be stripped of his belt.

In an e-mail to RingTV.com on Thursday, Brown acknowledged having sent the test results and requested that further questions be sent to him.

Until sending the documents, Brown had asserted that the results of the tests were negative, while also stating that it was D.C. Commission policy that the official documentation remain private.

"Medical records are confidential; not routinely released unless another commission has business concerning the medical records," read Brown's letter, in part.

"Medicals in the Commission's view are confidential and extreme measures are taken to protect medical records. Perhaps other commissions may have a different view and practice but that is the approach this Commission takes."

During an exclusive interview last month prior to his fight with Holt, Peterson told RingTV.com that he had few regrets about going through the controversy surrounding his testosterone levels, and also expressed his preference for dealing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) as a testing agency in the future.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]