By Jake Donovan

Francisco Vargas has been granted a temporary license by the California State Athletic Commission ahead of his anticipated showdown with Orlando Salido.

However, he is not yet out of the clear.

On the heels of a recent positive drug test result for traces of Clenbuterol, Vargas has been ordered by the commission to enroll in a still-to-be-determined program that will include extensive testing ahead of his planned June 4 title defense. For now, the show will still go on at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., with HBO to televise and with Golden Boy Promotions - Vargas' promoter - permitted to proceed with the promotion of the event.

It all comes with the understanding, though, that anything short of Vargas providing a negative test result in accordance with the zero tolerance in place - meaning even a minimal trace of banned substances in his system not only cancels the event but also places him subject to disciplinary action.

The now-at-risk super featherweight title fight came in high demand when first pitched in early January. Salido's camp led an aggressive media campaign to arouse interest, which was well received by the boxing community. Vargas (23-0-1, 17KOs) quickly agreed to terms for the first defense of the title he won in heroic fashion, overcoming a mid-rounds knockdown and grotesque facial swelling and cuts to dethrone Takashi Miura via 9th round stoppage last November in Las Vegas.

The bout was regarded by many - including BoxingScene.com - as 2015 Fight of the Year.

Salido (43-13-3, 30KOs) has been in the market for an attempt at a fifth title reign spanning two weight classes. It would have been one more, only for the 20-year boxing veteran to have tested positive for Nandrolone following his Nov. '06 title win-turned-No-Decision versus Robert Guerrero.

It was the lone time in Salido's lengthy career that he tested positive for a banned substance, yet remains branded as a cheater as pointed out by his agent, the ubiquitous Sean Gibbons.

"You guys required the testing," Gibbons stated, not particularly interested in joining the pity party since the same concession has never been granted to his own fighter. "Orlando had the same issues with testing. We spent a lot of time and money trying to prove his innocence. All they called us was a steroid cheat.

"We understand where you’re coming from. That’s all we get branded. But Orlando lives and trains in Mexico. We're eating the same red meat that (Vargas) is eating."

That history in mind was what prompted Vargas' team to demand random drug testing as conducted by Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), to which all parties agreed.

VADA founder and head chairperson Dr. Margaret Goodman informed all parties of its willingness to "continue to the testing for the Califorina State Athletic Commission until it is determined that a doping violation has occurred. I should also note that a fighter can be reinstated into the VADA program, if the athlete has served a suspension or if a determination has been made that no doping violation occurred."

The latter disclaimer is in direct reference to VADA's policy of removing an athlete from its program once a doping violation is established, which occurs when the "B" sample confirms what discovered in the "A" sample.

As for whether the test result should result in the immediate cancellation of a fight, that call is up to the presiding commission.

"VADA has no role in what should happen with this or any bout, nor does VADA opine on whether sanctions are appropriate," Goodman points out. "VADA's role is solely to ensure testing is carried out according to the highest standards using WADA-accredited laboratories, certified collection officers, and demonstrating transparency in releasing the results to the commission, the ABC, the promoters and the athlete as soon as they are available."

To date, it has only been confirmed that Vargas' "A" sample has tested positive for Clenbuterol, which in its legal form is used as an aerosol inhalant to treat asthma. As it relates to athletes - commonly with body builders, but also showing up in boxers' systems as well - it is used during the weight-cutting style and also to increase metabolism.

Recent studies as reported by the Associated Press point out the issue of the substance also frequently used by ranchers in Mexico, feeding it to livestock to produce lean muscle. Vargas' team continues to cling to that alibi - which has not yet been dismissed - in the manner in which it has entered the boxer's system.

To date, Vargas' "B" sample not yet tested, or at least such results not yet known. His manager, Ralph Heredia insists came from contaminated meat ingested during a home-cooked meal upon his return home to Mexico.

"Francisco was in California for four weeks," Heredia points out, also noting that he tested negative during that period. "We all love home cooking. When Francisco went him, he ate carne de jugo (beef stew), which his mom prepared for him.

"My understanding was that his dosage was very, very low (1.3ng). The brief research I did shows that one pill tests 5.0ng. That not only shows that we are... clean, but that we are also willing to do whatever CSAC suggests."

The suggestion was taken into consideration by the commission, but also with the firm stance that a strict zero tolerance is in place for Vargas, who is now obligated to produce a 100% clean test result without exception.

"Dr. (Paul) Wallace (CSAC chief physcian) is going to work with Dr. Goodman on an entire plan of testing for this fight," Andy Foster, executive director of CSAC explained to Golden Boy Promotions, Vargas' team, Salido's team and representatives from the World Boxing Council (WBC), whose super featherweight title is at stake. "If Vargas does not have Clenbuterol in his system, he will reevaluate his full license application."

The plan calls for an extensive four-week period, with Dr. Wallace to report all findings to the CSAC during the period to and through June 1-2, just prior to the fight. 

"Should Mr. Vargas test – if in this four weeks does not satisfy the requirement, at that point the commission will have no choice but to not sanction this fight and that’s a financial risk (on the part of Golden Boy Promotions). We can’t... and we won’t sanction a dirty fighter."

Golden Boy VP Eric Gomez confirmed to the commission that plans are in place to have Vargas immediately relocate his training camp from Mexico back to the United States. The unbeaten boxer is due to return to California late Sunday evening and available for additional commission testing immediately thereafter.

"We are going to cooperate 100% as will Mr. Vargas. We will take extreme measures in regards to testing," Gomez assured the commission. "We are looking to move his camp here to California. We don’t want a repeat of what happened.

"We want to put this behind us. The actions that will be taken are necessary."

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow him on his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2