Replies

[HaydelHammer]

Former welterweight titleholder Andre Berto has tested positive for a banned substance, putting his scheduled June 23 rematch with fellow former titlist Victor Ortiz in jeopardy.

Berto tested positive for the steroid norandrosterone, a source with direct knowledge of the test results told ESPN.com on Friday.

Promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com he was unsure of what Berto tested positive for but confirmed the result.

"I know he tested positive. I learned it in the last half-hour," DiBella said. "I have nothing else to say. I don't know all of the details, so I have nothing else to say."

Ortiz and Berto had agreed to use the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for random blood and urine testing in the lead up to their fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Showtime had made the bout the centerpiece of its boxing schedule for the first half of the year.

Showtime is proceeding as though the fight will be canceled. A network source told ESPN.com that Showtime is already discussing with Golden Boy Promotions about possible replacement opponents to face Ortiz.

Berto submitted to a random urine test May 2, according to the source. The "A" test came back positive last week. The "B" sample also came back positive Friday, triggering VADA to alert the California State Athletic Commission, DiBella and Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer, Ortiz's promoter.

In April 2011, Ortiz outslugged Berto to win a welterweight title in one of the year's most exciting fights. The rematch was supposed to take place Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, but Berto suffered a biceps injury, forcing the postponement to June 23.

This is the second high-profile positive drug test in the past two weeks. Junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone following a March 19 random test in the lead up to his rematch with Amir Khan. They were scheduled to meet Saturday night in Las Vegas, but the fight was canceled last week.

ESPN - BOXING

Failed both samples...commission wasn't informed of any doctor issued meds (same as peterson) I'm sure. Floyd looking more and more like a winner in his efforts to force testing across the board.

..and berto tried to say Ortiz was dirty (which I'm sure he did cycle) so he goes and tries to run a cycle..timed it wrong and got caught. Morons.

[whiteboy]

its becoming obvious that more boxers use ped's than we or I originally thought, its a shame but i guess its been like this for so long now and nothing has actually changed and i feel more boxers are going to fail these vada tests more regularly in the near future, get ready for a load more cancellations

[Cshel86]

i feel more boxers are going to fail these vada tests more regularly in the near future, get ready for a load more cancellations

I doubt it. If anything, more of these dudes will try to avoid implementing these tests and make it seem as if it's just a waste of time and another way of messing up big fights. Sad to say, but Im sure this is the mindset of some of these fighters...especially the ones that are using.

We know how boxing fans (casual) fans are when it comes to fights, they dont give a flying fuck about the fighters' health, they just want to see a big fight. Im wondering what they think of Mayweather's stand, now that 2 known fighters have tested positive.

I was tired of hearing dumb shit like, "Just make the fight happen", "Why is Floyd asking for extra testing? Just fight the dude.", "Extra testing is not required by the commission." All of these statements are a bunch of bullshit, and people that live by them, need to be shot.

It's bad enough that these guys are already punching the shit out of each other for 10-12 rounds...so why add an illegal substance?

[daprofessor]

I doubt it. If anything, more of these dudes will try to avoid implementing these tests and make it seem as if it's just a waste of time and another way of messing up big fights. Sad to say, but Im sure this is the mindset of some of these fighters...especially the ones that are using.

We know how boxing fans (casual) fans are when it comes to fights, they dont give a flying fuck about the fighters' health, they just want to see a big fight. Im wondering what they think of Mayweather's stand, now that 2 known fighters have tested positive.

I was tired of hearing dumb shit like, "Just make the fight happen", "Why is Floyd asking for extra testing? Just fight the dude.", "Extra testing is not required by the commission." All of these statements are a bunch of bullshit, and people that live by them, need to be shot.

It's bad enough that these guys are already punching the shit out of each other for 10-12 rounds...so why add an illegal substance?

vada is voluntary. these guys voluntarily took the tests and came up positive. i think, like floyd wants, it should be mandatory. integrity is a thing of the past.

[Cshel86]

vada is voluntary. these guys voluntarily took the tests and came up positive. i think, like floyd wants, it should be mandatory. integrity is a thing of the past.

I know that they're voluntary, and just because one fighter wants to do the testing, doesn't mean that the other guy is all that pumped up to it. It would look twice as suspicious if one fighter had reservations about agreeing to the testing.

When a fighter has doubts about undergoing random tests, it's usually put out there as, "Who does this guy think he is with the extra testing requests?", "I will only take the tests that the commissions require." or "This guy is accusing me of juicing because he's scared of me."

Im sure that Berto and Peterson thought that stuff was out of their system waaay before they tested, but we see what really happened. Im still leaning towards Peterson's argument, though he should've came forward in the beginning.

I have no pity for guys like Berto, who show all of the signs of a mental midget and would willingly juice up for a fight. Funny how we find this out AFTER he got beat by Ortiz, and was almost set to fight him again. As someone mentioned, he lacks ring I.Q., so he has no choice but to lean on his aggression and PEDs to stay in the fight.

[daprofessor]

I know that they're voluntary, and just because one fighter wants to do the testing, doesn't mean that the other guy is all that pumped up to it. It would look twice as suspicious if one fighter had reservations about agreeing to the testing.

When a fighter has doubts about undergoing random tests, it's usually put out there as, "Who does this guy think he is with the extra testing requests?", "I will only take the tests that the commissions require." or "This guy is accusing me of juicing because he's scared of me."

Im sure that Berto and Peterson thought that stuff was out of their system waaay before they tested, but we see what really happened. Im still leaning towards Peterson's argument, though he should've came forward in the beginning.

I have no pity for guys like Berto, who show all of the signs of a mental midget and would willingly juice up for a fight. Funny how we find this out AFTER he got beat by Ortiz, and was almost set to fight him again. As someone mentioned, he lacks ring I.Q., so he has no choice but to lean on his aggression and PEDs to stay in the fight.

i have no pity for either. seriously...u have to be stupid to get caught. both guys lack intelligence...or the right ppl to handle their situations. peterson made himself look more guilty with all the talk after he tested positive. funny thing....didn't peterson and berto insist on these tests? wasn't berto the guy accusing ortiz after their first fight? they just lost all their credibility. testing is better than no testing. i agree that it should raise suspicions if anyone refuses to test....but again, it's voluntary. voluntary isn't going to get it.

anyone know victor conte's stance in all this? i know he was working with berto...and he was also supposed to be helping vada some kind of way if i remember correctly. the guy has no business in boxing. there are already enough corrupt individuals involved in the sport.

[Cheesey1]

i have no pity for either. seriously...u have to be stupid to get caught. both guys lack intelligence...or the right ppl to handle their situations. peterson made himself look more guilty with all the talk after he tested positive. funny thing....didn't peterson and berto insist on these tests? wasn't berto the guy accusing ortiz after their first fight? they just lost all their credibility. testing is better than no testing. i agree that it should raise suspicions if anyone refuses to test....but again, it's voluntary. voluntary isn't going to get it.

anyone know victor conte's stance in all this? i know he was working with berto...and he was also supposed to be helping vada some kind of way if i remember correctly. the guy has no business in boxing. there are already enough corrupt individuals involved in the sport.

Re. Conte he issued a statement that he had absolutely nothing to do with it and as I said earlier, I don't think that he'd be that stupid to get back into the roiding game now that he's reestablished himself as a legit guy and is making nice money from it, but I coould be wrong.

I've always maintained that there should be some sort of ban for PEDs (autmoatic ban, but if there is mitigating evidence then the ban can be appealed). The mitigating evidence shouldn't be overlooked.

FH's interview of Dr. Benjamin (it's on the front page) was very interesting and if you haven't read it, I definitely recommend it.

Basically, I agree completely that there's no place for PEDs in boxing, or any other sport and random testing is the way to go, but the athletes should have a chance to explain themselves and appeal their bans. Their explanations aren't get out of jail free cards, but they have to be heard and weighed in a way that's transparent, ethical and scientific.

[daprofessor]

Re. Conte he issued a statement that he had absolutely nothing to do with it and as I said earlier, I don't think that he'd be that stupid to get back into the roiding game now that he's reestablished himself as a legit guy and is making nice money from it, but I coould be wrong.

I've always maintained that there should be some sort of ban for PEDs (autmoatic ban, but if there is mitigating evidence then the ban can be appealed). The mitigating evidence shouldn't be overlooked.

FH's interview of Dr. Benjamin (it's on the front page) was very interesting and if you haven't read it, I definitely recommend it.

Basically, I agree completely that there's no place for PEDs in boxing, or any other sport and random testing is the way to go, but the athletes should have a chance to explain themselves and appeal their bans. Their explanations aren't get out of jail free cards, but they have to be heard and weighed in a way that's transparent, ethical and scientific.

i agree. the problem is...there are a lot of guys out there claiming to be "strength and conditioning" coaches who always have short cuts. most fighters and trainers aren't educated on these sort of things so they have no clue. i've had guys trying to get my fighters to use "supplements" and i don't really believe in them. i think u can get all u need from the foods u eat. anytime someone is looking to stick needles in their asses...or use creams....they're taking short cuts. i don't even like my guys to use abolene. there's no substitute for hard/smart work.

i'll check out the article.

[Cheesey1]

i agree. the problem is...there are a lot of guys out there claiming to be "strength and conditioning" coaches who always have short cuts. most fighters and trainers aren't educated on these sort of things so they have no clue. i've had guys trying to get my fighters to use "supplements" and i don't really believe in them. i think u can get all u need from the foods u eat. anytime someone is looking to stick needles in their asses...or use creams....they're taking short cuts. i don't even like my guys to use abolene. there's no substitute for hard/smart work.

i'll check out the article.

If you want to read an absolutely douche bag comment on this, I will point you to none other than the Father of all Douche Bags...yes, the incomparable Bob 'the Bobfather' Arum. He basically makes it all about money and that it's okay if the substance is detected after the match because everything's already taken place. Yes Bob, you soulless, money hungry, crazy person, the boxer's health has already been jeopardised and you've made your money. Sickening.
Here's a bit of his mindless opinion on this issue over on ringtv.com.

"I'm not laughing at Richard Schaefer, I really feel for him. Everybody has to sit down and sort out this situation. Something is happening that is very wrong here. It's not being sorted out. What's going on here is crazy. It's one thing to test after the event, and the fighter goes before the commission, and he's fined. The event already has taken place. Those things get sorted out."

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172957-...esting-scandals

This post has been edited by Cheesey1: May 23 2012, 08:44 AM

[daprofessor]

If you want to read an absolutely douche bag comment on this, I will point you to none other than the Father of all Douche Bags...yes, the incomperable Bob 'the Bobfather' Arum. He basically makes it all about money and that it's okay if the substance is detected after the match because everything's already taken place. Yes Bob, you soulless, money hungry, crazy person, the boxer's health has already been jeopardised and you've made your money. Sickening.
Here's a bit of his mindless opinion on this issue over on ringtv.com.

"I'm not laughing at Richard Schaefer, I really feel for him. Everybody has to sit down and sort out this situation. Something is happening that is very wrong here. It's not being sorted out. What's going on here is crazy. It's one thing to test after the event, and the fighter goes before the commission, and he's fined. The event already has taken place. Those things get sorted out."

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172957-...esting-scandals

if bob arum cared about the fighters...

he wouldn't have suggested 8oz gloves for the first cotto/margarito fight.

he wouldn't have defended that piece of shit cheating muhfucka.

he wouldn't have tilted the odds in pac's favor for all those fights where guys were severely weight drained/dehydrated.

he wouldn't have put margarito back in the ring with pac and cotto after he took that severe beating from shane.

he's all about the money. it doesn't surprise me one bit. look for a lot of the hacks to start spewing his same bullshit in their articles.

[Cheesey1]

if bob arum cared about the fighters...

he wouldn't have suggested 8oz gloves for the first cotto/margarito fight.

he wouldn't have defended that piece of shit cheating muhfucka.

he wouldn't have tilted the odds in pac's favor for all those fights where guys were severely weight drained/dehydrated.

he wouldn't have put margarito back in the ring with pac and cotto after he took that severe beating from shane.

he's all about the money. it doesn't surprise me one bit. look for a lot of the hacks to start spewing his same bullshit in their articles.

So true.