The WBC has put Alycia Baumgardner under a probationary period following their decision to find Baumgardner not guilty on intentional use of performance-enhancing drugs. Last year, it was revealed that Baumgardner failed a drug test and she was implicated in using the banned substance of mesterolone. In response, Baumgardner produced a report where she appeared to prove her innocence and prematurely declared herself cleared before any sanctioning body or state athletic commission deemed her as such.
The creation of Alycia Baumgardner’s report might have been due to the WBO’s order for Baumgardner to clarify her failed drug test in order to keep her titles. It is therefore assumed that the other sanctioning bodies―including the WBC―similarly asked for clarification behind-the-scenes.
In an official statement that the WBC released yesterday, the WBC clarified their decision to find Baumgardner “not guilty”:
“Based on the Adverse Finding in Ms. Baumgardner’ A Sample, and considering all factors both sides presented, the WBC arrived at the conclusion that there was no conclusive justification to reject the accuracy of the Adverse Finding based on the evidence and arguments the Response and supplemental information presented,” The WBC stated.
“However, that same evidence and arguments do not conclusively support Ms. Baumgardner’s intentional ingestion of Mesterolone for performance enhancement purposes.
“Accordingly, the WBC found Ms. Baumgarner not guilty of intentional ingestion or consumption of a banned substance for performance enhancement purposes, and confirmed her as reigning WBC Super Featherweight World Champion.
“In addition, the WBC is ruling that: (1) the accuracy and validity of the Adverse Finding justifies placing Ms. Baumgardner on probation for one (1) year from the date the sample that yielded the Adverse Finding was collected, or until July 12, 2024;
“(2) Ms. Baumgardner shall be subjected to a series of random anti-doping tests at her own cost, which frequency shall be determined by VADA; (3) if there is an adverse finding concerning any of Ms. Baumgardner’s samples or a whereabouts failure during her probationary period and for 6-months thereafter, the WBC shall immediately and without further inquiry take immediate action against Ms. Baumgardner under the WBC Clean Boxing Program Protocol;
“And (4) Ms. Baumgardner and the WBC will work together to design and implement her participation in an anti-doping prevention program directed to active female boxers.“
Despite the WBC’s ruling Baumgardner as innocent of intentional doping, their statements appear to suggest they still carry some concerns over the adverse finding, thus leading to the probation they slammed on Baumgardner which will last until one year after her sample was found to be tainted on July 12th this year.
During this probation, Baumgardner will be required to pay for random drug testing out of her own pocket. Another adverse finding during this period will likely result in her being stripped of her WBC title. Less importantly, she will also aid active female boxers through WBC’s anti-doping prevention programs.
The WBC’s decision indicates Baumgardner was not cleared conclusively, given she has been put under a probationary period by at least one sanctioning body. While it is unknown which measures the other sanctioning bodies have taken, there is knowledge of at least the WBO requiring her to clarify her failed drug test and they might put her under a similar probation.
As of now, both the WBC and WBO have shown commendable efforts through their transparency and rational approach in dealing with Baumgardner’s case which has largely been ignored due to the confusion and inconsistency that hung around the test.
Currently, Baumgardner is still suspended indefinitely by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), which should mean she is unable to fight in any sanctioned bout in at least the United States. However, Baumgardner’s recent public intentions to fight Claressa Shields seemed to suggest otherwise, and there might be a chance for her to fight outside of the United States, similar to how Conor Benn is able to fight outside of the UK when he was prohibited from fighting there despite a pending drug case.
