Canelo Álvarez Blames Tainted Meat For Positive Drug Test

Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Canelo Álvarez tested positive for clenbuterol last month. The Mexican fighter gave two urine samples to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on Feb. 17 and 20, both of which came back positive for the banned substance. Álvarez’s team blamed the result on tainted meat, and the director of Salt Lake City’s WADA-accredited SMRTL lab confirmed that the result was “within the range of what is expected from meat contamination.”

Álvarez fights Gennady Golovkin in two months, and he’ll be moving his camp to the United States from Guadalajara to finish up preparations.

Several Mexican athletes have tested positive for clenbuterol over the years, and the NFLPA warned players two years ago not to eat meat in China or Mexico after offensive lineman Duane Brown had a clenbuterol positive after eating tainted meat.

As of now, it doesn’t look like Álvarez will face any disciplinary action before the fight. ESPN obtained a letter from VADA director Margaret Goodman where she wrote, “the current plan is to continue to test Mr. Alvarez so that the Nevada State Athletic Commission can make a final determination. Mr. Alvarez has the right to promptly request analysis of the ‘B’ samples at his expense.”