Canelo Alvarez suspended for six months for failing two drugs tests after claiming he ate ‘contaminated meat’ in Mexico
Ban is backdated to February, which means he could fight Gennady Golovkin in September
CANELO ALVAREZ has been banned from boxing for six months after failing two drugs tests.
But his suspension has been backdated to February - meaning a blockbuster rematch with Gennady Golovkin could still be on.
The Mexican fighter, 27, twice tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol after giving samples on February 17 and February 20.
He claimed it was a result of eating contaminated meat, and went on to pass two drugs tests ahead of his rematch against Golovkin.
But with the hearing date into the failed samples coming too close to the fight date of May 5, Canelo was forced to withdraw from the fight.
Golovkin, 36, is now set to defend his WBC, WBA and IBO world titles against Vanes Martorosyan.
But the Kazakh champion has not ruled out a second go against Canelo in September.
Clenbuterol is used by athletes as a fat-burner, and has been used in bodybuilding and cycling among other sports.
The substance is used in the Mexican meat trade, however, where the food regulations are less strict than in the US and the UK.
Last year, Canelo and Golovkin’s first fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended in a controversial draw.
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The Nevada State Athletic Commission and Canelo's team reached an adjudication agreement before the hearing.
It was then the board voted unanimously on a six-month ban, meaning he will be eligible to fight again on August 17.
What is Clenbuterol?
In the UK, Clenbuterol is classified as a Class C drug.
Clenbuterol is used by sufferers of breathing disorders, such as asthma, but is illegal to buy or sell without a prescription.
It has become a popular drug for bodybuilders looking to cut weight quickly - that is because it increases metabolism for those who take it.
Like Salbutemol, Clenbuterol also works by dilating the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs, although its effects are more potent and longer lasting.
In the European Union, Clenbuterol is not allowed to be used by any animals that will be consumed by humans, although those rules do not apply to countries outside of Europe.
It is on the WADA banned list.
Notably, cyclist Alberto Contador tested positive for the drug - he was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title in the aftermath.
Mexican boxer Erik Morales was banned for two years after testing positive.
Earlier this year, British Olympic sprinter Nigel Levine was provisionally suspended after testing positive for the drug.
Amir Khan recently came out saying he believes Canelo should receive a lifetime ban.
He said: "If anyone is taking any enhancing drugs then they should be banned 100 per cent, it should not be allowed.
"Otherwise we could all think ‘why don’t we all take it and have that extra edge?’
“Canelo has now failed two drugs test and apparently passed a third, maybe because he got off it. But I do not think it means that he should still be able to fight again.
"It will all come down to what the boxing boards and governing bodies say but, in my opinion, if Canelo fights again then it is a sign to other fighters out there that they will only get a slap on the wrist and it’s OK to do it."