The B-sample of Jaime Munguia came back positive, indicating that the banned testosterone metabolites that were initially discovered through his A-sample were legitimate, confirming his use of PEDs. The British Boxing Board of Control, who regulated the May 3rd Riyadh Season card he participated in, is now set to handle the repercussions of his actions, with a hopeful suspension ― or ban depending on the context ― set to ensue and derail Munguia’s career.
Mexican super middleweight (168 lbs) contender Jaime Munguia (45-2, 35 KO’s) was first discovered to have failed a drug test in the back-end of May, weeks after his unanimous decision (UD) win over Bruno Surace on May 3rd. With the A-sample denoting use of banned testosterone metabolites according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the process of confirming the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) was initiated not long after as the B-sample was tested.
With both tests having been conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), the B-sample’s positive results indicates a simple certainty; that Munguia did in fact use PEDs which will now see the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) hand out the appropriate punishment after reviewing the case.
Based on prior cases of fighters under the BBBofC’s jurisdiction testing positive for illegal substances, Munguia could face a two-year ban from competing in professional boxing ― though ESPN has indicated he could face ban of six months to one year instead. It is currently unknown with which governing body or boxing commission he holds a license with, but is generally understood the BBBofC will be responsible for handling his case due to his participation on their regulated card.
The news of Munguia’s failed B-sample test was revealed by his team who largely appeared to deny deliberate PED-use and signified they would be seeking absolution by working to uncover potential contamination.
“Today we can confirm that Jaime Munguía’s B-sample has been opened and analyzed, and consistent with the A-sample, was also positive,” Team Munguia’s official press statement reads. “Jaime was present in Utah for the opening of the B-sample, demonstrating his respect for the process and his full commitment to transparency and cooperation at every step.
“We want to reiterate that this outcome does not change our position: Jaime did not knowingly or intentionally ingest any banned substance. We remain steadfast in the belief that this result was caused by contamination, and we are continuing to take every possible step to identify the source.
“At this stage, we are still awaiting clarification from specialists regarding the specific levels detected in the samples. As the next step, our team is submitting a list of all supplements and products Jaime used to a WADA-accredited laboratory for testing. This is critical in helping determine how the substance may have entered his system and ensuring the integrity of the review.”
Though Munguia’s team is firmly taking a stance of innocence, citing future efforts by them to look for contamination, the positive test speaks for itself. Furthermore, the only fighter over the past decade who tested positive for PEDs that ever admitted to intentionally using them, American heavyweight Jarrell Miller (26-1-2, 22 KO’s), received steep repercussions as he received a 2-year suspension rather than the average suspension that last from 6 months to a year. Almost as a rule of thumb, it therefore appears fighters who maintain innocence are punished less severely than the fighters who admit to illegal drug use.
Munguia’s credibility is further under question given he now has become the fourth fighter of trainer Eddy Reynoso to have tested positive conclusively for a banned substance. Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KO’s) remains the most popular case following his positive test for clenbuterol which culminated in a 6-month suspension. Notably, the fight he tested positive after, the initial bout in 2017 of what would eventually become a trilogy with Gennady Golovkin, would not be ruled a no-contest despite the doping violation. Their fight had ended in a split-decision (SD) draw.
Another Reynoso fighter in former world champion Oscar Valdez (32-3, 24 KO’s) ultimately received no suspension for his own failed A- and B-sample tests but was known to have used the banned diuretic of phentermine. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission that was set to regulate his fight against Robson Conceicao (19-3-1, 9 KO’s) in 2021 allowed him to compete regardless due to a loophole in WADA’s rules ― as the substance was discovered during tests administered weeks prior to his fight.
In 2024, Julio Cesar Martinez (20-4, 15 KO’s) was suspended 9 months due to his post-fight failed drug test. The fight would be deemed a no-contest. Though he made an appearance quite recently on May 31st during a comeback fight against fellow Mexican Gerardo Valenzuela Munoz (13-4-1, 10 KO’s), Martinez is still considered suspended by Baja California’s [a Mexican state] combat sports commission until August 14 this year. Martinez’ substance of concern had been clenbuterol ― like Canelo Alvarez.
With now four fighters who were actively training under Eddy Reynoso having failed drug tests, the obvious conclusion pinpoints Reynoso as a prime target for potential investigation. No known boxing trainers have undergone this substantial process over the past two decades, with the only sports trainers connected to any case of potentially providing athletes with PEDs limited to those caught up in the infamous BALCO scandal.
Jaime Munguia will undergo a likely lengthy process to prove his innocence as the BBBofC will be scheduling a hearing, and his team will be allowed to test and examine any supplements or other products to prove their claims of contamination. Depending on what the BBBofC decides, Munguia’s May 3rd match against Bruno Surace (26-1-2, 5 KO’s) will be overturned.
