By Mark Vester
It was reported in the Los Angeles Times that former three-division champion James "Lights Out" Toney has been able to reduce his suspension from 1-year to 180-days, meaning Toney can return to the ring by the end of November.
Toney appeared before the California State Athletic Commission and was facing a 1-year suspension and a $2,500 fine for testing positive for a performance enchancing drug in the post-fight urinalysis that followed his May 24 split-decision win over Danny Batchelder in San Jose. He also tested positive for boldenone, which the paper described as a fat-reducing medication for horses and can only be prescribed veterinarians.
It was not the first time that Toney failed a post-fight drug test. In 2005, he tested positive for a steroid called nandrolone in a test that followed his title winning effort over WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz. The bout was ruled a no-contest and Toney was suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission.
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