Golden Boy issues statement on Vargas testing for clenbuterol

Apr

Orlando Salido (R) and WBC 130-pound titleholder Francisco Vargas (L) at the ESPN studios to talk about their upcoming HBO-televised title fight on June 4 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Photo by Chris Farina – Team Salido

Golden Boy Promotions has issued the following statement with regard to WBC 130-pound titleholder Francisco Vargas testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol:

“As part of a voluntary testing program that Francisco Vargas requested ahead of his June 4 fight, he tested positive for clenbuterol.

“Francisco believes he tested positive due to ingesting contaminated meat in Mexico where clenbuterol is commonly used by ranchers in livestock feed. The Associated Press reported this week that this practice may impact athletes throughout the country ahead of the 2016 Olympics.

“Francisco has, is and will always be a clean fighter. That is why he insisted on this voluntary testing program ahead of the first defense of his WBC championship.

“He previously tested clean as part of this same voluntary testing regiment and in all of his previous fights. He will immediately leave Mexico to finish his training camp in the U.S. in order to avoid any possible repeat of this situation and is fully cooperating with the California State Athletic Commission to submit to all required testing ahead of his June 4 title defense.”

Vargas, who won the WBC title with a ninth-round stoppage of Takashi Miura in THE RING’s 2015 Fight of the Year, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, and is scheduled to defend his junior lightweight belt against veteran two-division titleholder Orlando Salido at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Earlier today, there were rumors of Vargas failing a PED test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which has a partnership with the WBC. It is believed that Vargas failed the “A sample” of the test due to traces of clenbuterol in his system, but there is still a B sample to be tested (which either overrides or confirms the first test). As of now, the HBO-televised fight against Salido is not in jeopardy.

Clenbuterol is a prescription drug often used to treat people with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma, however, because it works like an adrenaline in the manner in which is increases aerobic capacity and stimulates the nervous system/metabolism, it is also used by body builders and athletes to gain an edge in their competitions.