World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has given Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) his vote of confidence, with respect to the ongoing controversy regarding the Canelo's failed drug tests - which showed traces of banned performance enhancing drug clenbuterol.
Canelo was undergoing the random drug test protocol in connection with his scheduled rematch against IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs).
Golovkin and Canelo are scheduled to collide for a second time on Cinco De Mayo weekend, May 5th, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo and his team have attributed the positive reading to eating contaminated meat.
The boxer's countrymen, Erik Morales and Francisco Vargas - and they too claimed that contaminated food caused their failed tests.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is investigating the positive tests - which were conducted by respected testing agency VADA.
From the moment the positive tests were announced, Canelo has been attacked from all corners by the critics.
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has made it clear that he's standing in Canelo's corner and confidently believes the boxer never intentionally used any performance enhancers.
"I'm giving Canelo the benefit of the doubt. He has never previously tested positive for anything and he`s been in the Clean Boxing Program for many years. He has our absolute vote of confidence," Sulaiman said.
The problem of contaminated meat in Mexico is nothing new. Clenbuterol is routinely used to make cattle and the meat they produce leaner. And those that consume the meat will inevitably test positive.
The three possible solutions are to test all of the meat before it`s consumed by boxers, or for the boxers to eat imported meat, or for the boxers to follow a vegetarian diet. On thing is for sure, says Sulaiman, the issue of contaminated meat must be tackled in "one way or another."
