By Miguel Rivera
As BoxingScene.com previosuly reported, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's eagerly awaited rematch with Gennady Golovkin under a small cloud of doubt after the Nevada Athletic Commission launched an investigation into Canelo's failed drug test.
On Monday it was revealed that Canelo returned positive traces of the banned substance clenbuterol in a test taken with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
A statement released Monday by Golden Boy Promotions blamed contaminated meat in his native Mexico for the finding, adding that Canelo will move his training camp from Mexico to the United States.
The Las Vegas bout is expected to go ahead May 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Canelo vowing to clear his name and "clarify this embarrassing situation."
But when asked by MMA Fighting if the bout will take place, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Ben Bennett said: "We have received the adverse analytical finding from VADA regarding Mr. Alvarez.
"As per our standard operational procedures, we are going forward with our investigation.
"At this point in time, I really can't make a determination (whether the fight will happen). The investigation hasn't concluded — it's obviously in its infancy stages."
The first fight between the middleweight rivals, in September 2017, ended in a controversial draw.
The president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Mauricio Sulaiman, is confident that the rematch will go forward.
"I don't think the fight on May 5 is at risk, I hope it will happen," said Sulaiman.
"Clenbuterol is widely known by everyone for the problems and scandals that have occurred in soccer and boxing, and the levels found, from .6 to .8 nanograms are very low, even half of what was found in 'Bandido' (Francisco Vargas ).
"'Canelo' is in the 'Clean Boxing Program' and has been subject to testing for many years and for many fights without ever giving a positive result, (but) we are in communication with the Nevada Commission to determine what will happen."