By Keith Idec

Gennady Golovkin isn’t the only one fighting May 5 that doesn’t believe Canelo Alvarez’s excuse.

Vanes Martirosyan, who replaced Alvarez as Golovkin’s opponent that night, also dismissed the Mexican superstar’s explanation for his performance-enhancing drug ordeal. Alvarez contends contaminated meat consumed in Mexico is responsible for him twice testing positive for clenbuterol in February.

“Regarding Canelo, you have to ask, ‘Why did he flunk two drug tests? Why did he withdraw from VADA?,’ ” Martirosyan said during an open workout earlier this week to promote his fight against Golovkin. “I don’t believe him. I don’t buy his excuse about tainted meat. If, God forbid, I had tested positive because of accidentally eating something, I would have myself tested every day to prove I was clean. No one wants to see someone cheat his way into a fight.”

Dr. Margaret Goodman, president of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, told the Los Angeles Times a week ago that Alvarez wasn’t enrolled at that time in its testing regimen. VADA administers testing for the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.

Goodman’s revelation was made on the same day that the Nevada State Athletic Commission extended Alvarez’s temporary suspension to six months for failing those two tests. Alvarez, 27, withdrew from his high-profile middleweight championship rematch against Golovkin on April 3 because he was advised that the NSAC would extend his suspension at its monthly meeting April 18.

Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and Kazakhstan’s Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) were supposed to fight again a week from Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Their first fight resulted in a controversial draw September 16 at T-Mobile Arena.

Two weeks after Alvarez pulled out of their fight, Golovkin’s handlers announced that he’ll meet Martirosyan on short notice May 5. HBO will televise their 12-round, 160-pound championship match live from StubHub Center in Carson, California.

The 31-year-old Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs), who’ll end nearly a two-year layoff May 5, is sure he’ll encounter a clean opponent that night.

“That’s why fans love Triple-G, because he is so good in the ring and because he is clean,” Martirosyan said. “He has always been tested. He wants boxing to be a clean sport, as do I.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.