by Steve Kim

Last week it was announced that Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) would be suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

A few weeks ago he withdrew from his highly anticipated rematch with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) which was scheduled to headline an HBO Pay-Per-View on May 5th at the T-Mobile Arena.

But the length of his suspension does allow for the pair to meet again on Mexican Independence Day weekend as they did last year in mid-September.

Back in February, Canelo tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, which the boxer attributes to the consumption of contaminated meat while training in Mexico. There has been a lot of controversy over Canelo's explanation, because the issue of meat being contaminated with clenbuterol is a well-known problem in Mexico.

Many are wondering if during this time off if Alvarez will be subject to random drug testing.

Tom Loeffler of GGG Promotions who was at the hearing last week told BoxingScene.com - "It wasn't clear from the commission, they said he has to apply for a license and then he has to go through a testing protocol but we would expect that 'Canelo' because he wants to prove his innocence that he would insist on random VADA testing and just like the 'Triple G' side would.

"So if that fight happens in September we expect that 'Canelo' would continue his random drug-testing for September."

Golovkin faces Vanes Martirosyan on May 5th at the StubHub Center.

So would their side be willing to do random testing from May to September ahead of an Alvarez rematch?

"Absolutely," stated Loeffler, "Abel(Sanchez) has always insisted on random VADA testing with every one of 'Triple G's fights and his opponents. This is what we would expect for a fight that takes place in September."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.