Mexican WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez has been suspended after a sample produced findings for a yet-to-be-specified masking agent; signaling the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) by Martinez. The test was conducted prior to Martinez’ match against Angelino Cordova on the March 30th card headlined by Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.

As reported by The Ring Boxing Magazine, the unknown substance found in Julio Cesar Martinez’ (21-3, 15 KO’s) sample has since been identified as a diuretic or masking agent¹, which according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is strictly prohibited. The drug testing itself seems to have been conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) themselves―rather than a more standard anti-doping organization such as the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA)―that also oversaw the entire March 30th card that Martinez and Angelino Cordova (18-1-1, 12 KO’s) participated on.

Notably, Martinez had mild difficulties during his flyweight title fight―while defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) title―against Cordova which resulted in him winning by a close majority decision (MD).

Julio Martinez has already been suspended by NSAC, showing a remarkable difference in the New York State Athletic Commission’s (NYSAC) approach who have thus far not yet suspended Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KO’s) after both his A- and B-samples tested positive for the banned substance of Ostarine. According to a NSAC representative, Martinez has a hearing scheduled for June 25th―which might possibly be followed by another hearing.

With the exact procedures surrounding positive drug tests differing per state athletic commission, it appears the NSAC has adopted a stricter stance to positive PED tests compared to the NYSAC, preferring to first suspend a fighter if they test positive for PEDs; and only remove the suspension upon the conclusion of their investigation. Overall, the Nevada Commission seems to adopt a more proactive stance compared to New York’s commission which has thus far been seen to adopt a passive approach.

The contrast between the two commissions’ approach could also be attributed to the fact the NSAC seems to have conducted drug tests for all of the fighters that competed on the March 30th Tszyu-Fundora card. In most cases, fighters willingly sign up for VADA and pay them instead to conduct drug tests during training camp, and prior and after their official bouts.

Additionally, another fighter that competed on the same card tested positive for an identical PED identified to be either a diuretic or masking agent; Mexican super featherweight Erick Garcia Benitez (5-6-1, 1 KO’s) who lost to American prospect Justin Viloria (5-0, 3 KO’s) by unanimous decision (UD).

With Julio Martinez testing positive, he has become the latest fighter from highly-lauded trainer Eddy Reynoso’s camp to have tested positive for PEDs. Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO’s) and Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KO’s) have notably tested positive for banned substances prior to Martinez.

1. diuretics are substances used to increase the production urine―which in turn is used to mask PEDs, while masking agents are often most commonly associated with substances that directly mask PEDs ↩︎