Erik Morales Plans May Return, Releases USADA Letter

By Miguel Rivera

Erik "Terrible" Morales (52-9, 36KOs), a former world champion in four different weight categories, is making plans to return to the ring in month of May. Morales has been away from the ring since being knocked out by WBC/WBA 140-pound champion Danny Garcia last October. 

Since the start of the year, Morales was caught in the eye of the storm after USADA [United States Anti-Doping Agency] advised the boxer that he was facing a two-year suspension for testing positive for clenbuterol. Morales tested positive for the substance prior the loss to Garcia.

Morales has now released a letter, from USADA, which the organization mailed to him last November. In the letter they said Morales was clean from any banned substances. It should be noted that Morales tested positive for minor traces of clenbuterol in two of the USADA tests, and then came up negative in the third test.

"I respect and will always respect the methods established by USADA, but I am a professional boxer in a sport that is governed by the authority of Boxing Commissions in the United States and Mexico, as well as by the World Boxing Council. None of these agencies have accused me of anything, and besides I have a letter that USADA says I'm a fighter clean and I have not committed anything wrong. With all this I'm already planning my return for May," Morales explained.