By Lem Satterfield
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has advised BoxingScene.com that heavyweight Tommy Zbikowski's 45-day suspension will be lifted as soon as possible. Zbikowski was one of the five fighters placed on suspension by the Chickasaw Nation Boxing Commission for failing drug tests in connection to last Saturday's card at the WinStar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Zbikowski and four other fighters tested positive for marijuana.
Zbikowski was re-tested on Tuesday at an independent lab in Iverness, Illinois and the result came back clean. The Chickasaw Boxing Commission has promised to lift the suspension.
"The result came back from the lab for Tommy Zbikowski completely clean, and it has been faxed to the Chickasaw Boxing Commission," said Bob Arum. "We always knew that Tommy is the epitome of a great athlete, and that he was a clean-living guy, and that the trace of THC that was found was not due to his doing anything wrong."
Zbikowski's attorney, Mike Joyce, told BoxingScene his client is ready to continue his career in the ring
"Hopefully, now that we have cleared him," said Joyce, "We can get back to boxing."
Zbikowski issued a statement through his attorney: "I'm glad to have my name cleared. It was such a positive experience down in Oklahoma. But I'm just glad to have this all behind me and to be able to be ready to get back to playing football and professional boxing."