Subriel Matias is officially under investigation for a matter that greatly impacts his next fight.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the WBC 140lbs titlist produced an adverse finding for the banned substance ostarine from a drug testing sample contracted by VADA. The development comes less than two months from Matias’ mandatory title defense against England’s Dalton Smith, which is currently scheduled for January 10 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Ring Magazine was the first to report on the matter.
The subject will now appear before the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) to determine whether Puerto Rico’s Matias is still eligible to proceed with the contest. Additionally, Matias has 10 days to request the testing of his “B” sample, which will be the case, sources have informed BoxingScene.
Among the items to review are the levels at which Matias tested positive. Although ostarine is a banned substance and classified as an anabolic agent, the threshold that showed up in Matias’ system could be met with forgiveness by the presiding commission.
Ironically, the same NYSAC officials were forced to rule on Ryan Garcia’s drug testing scandal for the same substance following his 12-round bout with Devin Haney last April – also at Barclays Center. Garcia initially won a majority decision, but he produced multiple positive tests for ostarine, for which he received a one-year suspension.
Should the ruling go against Matias, the WBC would then have to determine the next course of action for its junior welterweight title. The winner is already required to next face former titlist Alberto Puello, whom Matias edged via majority decision to win the title on July 12 in Queens, New York.
More irony: Puello’s WBA 140lbs title reign ended when he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene. His team pleaded the case that he was prescribed the drug as a fertility boost, as he and his wife were planning to have a child. The alibi was met with sympathy but still resulted in a six-month suspension and forfeiture of his title.
For now, the independent pay-per-view event remains on course, pending further investigation.
Matias, 23-2 (22 KOs), aims to make the first defense of his WBC 140lbs belt. He previously held the IBF 140lbs title for more than two years before losing to Liam Paro last June in his Puerto Rico homeland.
Three wins have followed – a pair of knockouts (also on home soil) prior to his win over Puello.
Smith, 18-0 (13 KOs), will be entering his first career title fight, which will double as his US debut. The former will remain true, no matter the result of the NYSAC investigation. A change in opponents could see Smith and Matchroom Boxing reroute the fight to a more favorable – or at least neutral – location.
