By Mark Vester
Three division champion James "Lights Out" Toney (69-6-3), 38, has once again tested positive for steroids.
In a rare occurance, both Toney and his May 24 opponent Danny Batchelder (25-5-1) tested positive for steroids. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, two types of steriods, boldenone and stanazolol, were found in Toney's system, and two types of steroids, stanazolol and oxandolone, were found in Batchelder's system.
Toney won the May 24 bout by split-decision, but one has to wonder if the California State Athletic Commission will rule the bout a no-contest. Both men will not see action for 1-year and have been fined $2,500 each. They are both able to appeal the decision the ruling of the commission.
Armando Garcia, the executive director of the commission, to the LA Times that if fighters use steroids in California, they will be caught.
"We have a detailed anti-doping program in place in this state," said Armando Garcia, the commission's executive director. "If they come here doping, they're going to get caught."
Toney previously tested positive for a banned steroid, nandrolone, in 2005, after he won the WBA heavyweight title from John Ruiz in New York's Madison Square Garden. The bout was later ruled a no-contest and the title returned to Ruiz. Toney was suspended from boxing for 90-days. Toney always said that he was given the steroid by a doctor to treat an arm injury that was suffered in a prior bout. There has been no comment from Toney on the latest incident.
It's hard to figure out because Toney was in terrible shape for the Batchelder bout, barely winning the contest and admitted afterwards that he was not in the best physical condition.
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