Canelo Alvarez Controversy: Why Did the Mexican Fail Drugs Test?

Published 12/18/2020, 12:05 PM EST

Canelo Alvarez has been one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. However, with fame come a lot of rumors and controversies. And the Mexican has had his fair share of controversies over the years; both inside and outside the ring.

Arguably the biggest of the lot was when Canelo faced a 6-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance. Let’s take a look at why he tested positive for the substance.

This happened back in 2018 when Canelo was getting ready to fix up a rematch against Gennady Golovkin. The two had battled it out in a controversial draw, and a re-match seemed obvious.

Article continues below this ad

However, it could not happen since he tested positive for Clenbuterol on two off-camp tests. And the Mexican was forced into a 6-month-l0ng exile.

As you can expect, Canelo always pleaded his innocence. He claimed he was unaware of it, and the reason for the presence of the substance was meat contamination.

His team argued that it is a very common practice in Mexico where Clenbuterol is used to improve the quality of the meat and many athletes have been victims of this.

Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith: Where to Watch, Date, Time, and Undercard

Needless to say, this was not enough to overturn the sentence, and the authorities banned Canelo for half-a-year. This then led to the cancellation of the fight with Golovkin, and the two met later that year. A fight which Canelo won via majority decision.

Canelo Alvarez’s Workout: How Does the Beast Train?

Why did Canelo Alvarez have to get banned for taking Clenbuterol?

Clenbuterol is a prescription-only drug to treat Asthma. However, the drug can also help build lean muscle mass and burn fat. This automatically makes it forbidden in combat sports, and any trace of the drug in a fighter would obviously lead to some action. However, in Alvarez’s case, it was a unique situation.

According to the Mexican’s promoters, many meat vendors used it in the feed for the livestock to increase the quality of the meat. So they claimed Canelo was a victim of this practice and it was completely unintentional.

However, when you look at the Mexican’s insane physique, you can get an idea as to why this was a serious matter.

WOW! Canelo Alvarez Flaunts His Six Pack Abs in Intense Training Video

Article continues below this ad

Despite all of this, Canelo seems to have learned his lesson and has had no other hiccups related to this. And the champion looks to be in incredible shape ahead of his fight against Callum Smith.

However, we’re sure there will be critics who still believe that Canelo Alvarez cheated in 2018.

Article continues below this ad

Canelo Alvarez’s Tattoos: What Do They Mean?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Leonardo Carvalho is a Boxing Writer for EssentiallySports. Before working as a boxing web journalist, Leonardo dabbled in roles ranging from an SEO specialist to a Chegg expert. Alongside his current role, Leonardo runs a YouTube channel where he combines his passion for fitness with sports.

Canelo Alvarez Controversy: Why Did the Mexican Fail Drugs Test?

Why did Canelo Alvarez have to get banned for taking Clenbuterol?

Trending

Ryan Garcia Leaks His DMs With Bobbi Althoff in Recent Social Media Rampage

Heavyweight Boxer Fighting for His Life, Falls Into Coma After First-Round Knockout Loss

“You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up”: Ryan Garcia Threatens to Expose Jailyne Ojeda in Ugly Back and Forth

Gervonta Davis Shuts Down Shakur Stevenson With the Ultimate Disrespect as Verbal Exchange Heats Up

Ryan Garcia Net Worth in 2024: How Much Does He Get Paid Per Fight?