Loeffler: The Burden is on Canelo To Prove He's a Clean Athlete

By Steve Kim

As of now the highly anticipated rematch between unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and challenger Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is still a go even with Alvarez testing positive for a banned substance.

It was revealed on Monday that Canelo had tested positive for clenbuterol ahead of the scheduled rematch.

The two boxers are set to collide on May 5th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

There is an assumption that this fight will proceed but Tom Loeffler of GGG Promotions said to BoxingScene.com - "I think it all depends on what happens with the investigation the athletic commission does and everyone wants to give everyone the benefit of the doubt but at the same time, this stage of competitive and high stakes boxing it's important that all facts come out and I think the burden is on 'Canelo' to prove the assumption that somehow that substance got into his system from Mexican beef.

"I don't think it can be automatically swept under the rug, otherwise there would be no point for having the testing."

Loeffler added - "We were just notified by VADA in writing on Monday and we haven't had any time frame from the Nevada commission in both what type of protocols or what type of investigation they're going to do in order to thoroughly understand this situation."

Many believe that at the very least Alvarez should now be subject to even more stringent and frequent drug testing leading into May 5th.

"We frankly think 'Canelo' should volunteer that. The burdens on him now to prove that he's a clean athlete and one of the ways to do that is to volunteer for as many tests as the commission or VADA feel is necessary," said Loeffler, while at the Summit gym in Big Bear.

"Right now it's a cloud over the positive test. Gennady's taken as many tests as 'Canelo' has for this fight and Abel (Sanchez) has always insisted in the recent years for Gennady to test just so that there would be no question about Gennady' punching power or conditioning up here in Big Bear. 'Canelo' looked very well-conditioned in his last fight, very muscular and that's why I think on social media you see some people posing questions about it and as Gennady said, we can only go with the commission rules."

Loeffler concluded - "But it's definitely their burden and their responsibility to make sure that both fighters are clean."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com