By David P. Greisman

Former 154- and 160-pound titleholder Harry Simon tested positive for steroids in his last fight, which took place in September 2013, though the positive test is only now coming to light via Namibia newspaper The New Era.

The report said it did not know which steroid Simon tested positive for. It also cited anonymous sources who said a hearing had already taken place and Simon admitted using the banned substance.

Simon seemed to indicate otherwise when contacted by the newspaper:

“I don’t know what you are talking about and even up to now, nothing has been communicated to me yet, either from the boxing federation or the Olympic committee. You can even call the boxing federation and ask. Why should this only crop up now when the fight already took place more than a year ago?” he was reported as saying.

The drug test took place before Simon’s decision win over Geard Ajetovic, a victory that moved him to 29-0 with 21 KOs.

He is 43 years old now, still undefeated in a career that began in 1994. His first title reign began at junior middleweight in 1998 with a majority decision over Winky Wright. He defended that title four times before moving up to middleweight in 2001, outpointing Hacine Cherifi and then capturing a belt with a decision over Armand Krajnc in 2002.

Yet Simon was sidelined after being involved in a motor vehicle crash that killed two Belgian tourists and their 22-month-old child. He was injured and, after beginning a comeback in 2007, was sentenced to two years in prison.

After being released, Simon fought twice in 2010, not at all in 2011, once in 2012 and twice in 2013. 

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