Cruiserweight Antonio Tarver Tests Positive For Steroid

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Cruiserweight contender and former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver has tested positive for an anabolic steroid for his fight against Lateefe Kayode on June 2.

During a pre-fight urine test, The California State Athletic Commission, which conducted the test, revealed that Tarver tested positive for the anabolic steroid drostanalone, which is often used by bodybuilders and athletes as a weight-cutting agent. It is commonly known by the name Masteron.

The CSAC has suspended Tarver, and fined him $2,500. Tarver issued a statement that read:

“I have always been a proponent of a clean sport and an advocate for the most rigorous drug testing in boxing. The positive test results came as a complete surprise to me today. I will be examining every potential cause and ultimately, I am confident that my fans will see that I was not at anytime attempting to gain an unfair or illegal advantage in my performance.”

Tarver, 43, and Kayode fought to a draw on June 2 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Tarver also said in a statement that he would appeal the decision and list everything he ingested before the June 2 fight.

Tarver is also a ringside analyst for Showtime, and was scheduled to work Saturday’s night’s welterweight fight between Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez at the Staples Center, however, the network has decided that Tarver will not work.

Tarver is the third major fighter to test positive in the last few months. Light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson tested positive during the leadup to his rematch with Amir Khan, causing that fight to be canceled. And Andre Berto tested positive during training for his rematch with Victor Ortiz. That fight was canceled as well.

Promoter Gary Shaw, who handles Kayode, said that the positive test is another hit the sport cannot afford to take.

“It’s very worrisome where our sport is heading these days with the recent array of fighters testing positive for banned substances,” Shaw said. “With all these fights being canceled its killing the sport and I hope the networks are not going to lose interest. As promoters, we do our best to make sure everyone is abiding by the rules. I’m happy that the commissions are stepping up their stance on catching fighters cheating because the safety of the fighter should always come first.

“It’s unfortunate that in Lateef Kayode’s first major opportunity, he had to fight on what appears to be an unlevel playing field. I have a lot of respect for Antonio Tarver and would be very disappointed to find out that he knowingly took performance enhancing drugs. It is my hope that Tarver requests that the B sample will be tested and will show that Tarver was clean. However if the sample comes back dirty, then the commission should take appropriate action. It was a very close fight as it was ruled a split draw, but now that we have been informed by the California State Athletic Commission about the alleged drug use, I’ll have to talk to Lateef and his management team to see what we’ll do to resolve this matter.”

Shaw wasn’t finished.

“In addition, the horrible scoring by the judges, the excessive use of PED’s, and the inability of promoters working together, is only going to kill this sport,” he continued. “Something needs to be done and major changes need to be made, and the time is now.

“The boxing business is getting worse by the day and we are losing fans by the minute. Boxing has been around longer than any other sport and we must keep the integrity of the game pure.”