By Elisinio Castillo
Luis Ortiz never thought that a visit to the doctor two years ago would have such dire repercussions in the present.
The Cuban heavyweight was diagnosed with hypertension and eight months ago began to take a prescription medication that was given to him by his doctor, and the medication contained two diuretics which are prohibited by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
Ortiz (27-0 23 KOs) was scheduled to face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) on November 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Ortiz then failed a pre-fight drug test, which came up positive for the two substances.
After a short investigation, the World Boxing Council refused to sanction the fight and Ortiz was pulled from the Wilder bout. He was later replaced by Wilder's mandatory challenger,Bermane Stiverne.
The WBC also took into account, that Ortiz tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2014, after a knockout win over Lateef Kayode in Las Vegas.
The big issue, is Ortiz and his handlers failed to advise VADA of the prescribed medication when filling out the documents for the drug testing protocol. Had Ortiz or his handlers advised VADA of the medication beforehand, there likely would not have been an issue.
"It is a prescription written by the doctor. It was a mistake by myself and my team, that we did not [advise VADA] of the medicine that I was taking by prescription," Ortiz told George Ebro.
Ortiz does not believe Wilder was actually willing to fight him. He feels Wilder was looking for a way out of the fight. Ortiz marked the third opponent for Wilder in the last two years who was pulled due to a failed pre-fight drug test.
"Wilder fears me and he did not want to face me," Ortiz added. "I was ready, I was going to explode his face. I have not lost faith [in getting a world title shot] and I'm not worn out like some people are saying."