The case of Mexican former world champion Julio Cesar Martinez has virtually managed to evade widespread attention―due to other similar cases that grabbed the limelight―but the fighter will nonetheless face steep repercussions for failing his respective drug test after a hearing by the Nevada’s commission confirmed he would be suspended for 9 months, amidst other charges.
Julio Cesar Martinez (21-3, 15 KO’s) successfully defended the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight (112 lbs) title against Angelino Cordova (18-1-1, 12 KO’s) on March 30th on the undercard of the Tszyu-Fundora event, but is no longer a champion after vacating his title in May in a bid to create a new career at super flyweight (115 lbs).
However, less than a month after this decision, the public became notified of a failed drug test for Martinez’ March 30th fight, resulting in an indefinite suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after he reportedly tested positive for diuretics or masking agents.
Approximately two weeks after this suspension, the NSAC then decided to definitively suspend Martinez for 9 months during an official ruling, dating back to March 30th which is set to expire somewhere in December [likely December 30th or 31st]. Aside from being barred from competing in any professional boxing contest, Martinez must further enroll in a clean drug testing program where he will have to submit regular drug tests to be able to return to the ring. His result against Cordova has also been overturned to a no-contest.
The situation of Julio Cesar Martinez reflects several interesting developments; for one, the NSAC’s quick ability to act on Martinez’ failed drug test―a far cry from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) who had refused to suspend Ryan Garcia (24–1, 20 KO’s) after he first tested positive twice for the banned substance of Ostarine.
Notably, the rules differ per state athletic commission but the NSAC’s approach appeared much more stringent, likely due to the presence of masking agents [or diuretics] within his body which almost certainly spoke of the use of a banned substance that Martinez had tried to obscure or mask.
In the case of Garcia, his drug tests were heavily dependent on the B-samples which could exonerate him―as an error or contamination could have occurred during testing, but the eventual revelation of his B-samples also testing positive for Ostarine made it clear under no uncertain terms that Garcia had violated the anti-drug rules of NYSAC.
The NYSAC opting not to suspend Ryan Garcia immediately following his first failed drug tests might have been just a way for the commission to act fairly, but it could also speak of a lack of involvement in the process. Notably, the NSAC conducted their own drug tests in the case of Julio Cesar Martinez, whereas Garcia voluntarily enrolled in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency’s (VADA) program, allowing NYSAC to play a more background-based role in the wake of Garcia’s failed tests.
Garcia was eventually suspended after his B-samples came in positive, but the NYSAC’s has not yet proved itself as a commission capable of actually stifling future drug use as their one-year suspension of Garcia seems mild when Garcia’s behavior prior to and after his failed drug tests are taken into account.
In essence, the NYSAC has established a precedent for future drug violators, indicating that regardless of the seriousness of a failed drug test a one-year suspension will be handed to any boxer that tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PED). In boxing, a year can oftentimes entail a period a boxer remains out of the ring willingly, which may not derail future combatants for attempting to use PEDs and could actually encourage it.
Moreover, the NYSAC has allowed Ryan Garcia and his team to maintain their innocence, driving home the point of there being no actual repercussions to boxers that test positive for PEDs in the state of New York.
The same cannot be said for Nevada’s boxing commission, who has an opportunity to showcase their dedication to fighting PED-use by maintaining their stringency going forward.
