Former Light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver was suspended after a drug test following his draw with Lateef Kayode on June 2nd came up positive.
“That is correct. Mr. Tarver tested positive for a banned substance,” George Dodd, the executive officer of the California commission, told ESPN.com.
Dodd said the commission has suspended Tarver — who earned $1 million for the fight — and fined him $2,500.
“We had a brief conversation and he said that the commission had gotten back the drug test results and that Tarver’s was dirty,” said Kayode’s manager Steve Feder. “I didn’t know the substance at the time and they were notifying the people they had to notify, so I felt like I had to give the commission time to do their job and that I wouldn’t say anything until I got the confirmation of the drug.”
“Mr. Tarver has the right to appeal the suspension and view the opening of the ‘B’ sample and the analyzing of the ‘B’ sample,” Dodd said.
Also, Andre Berto tested positive for the steroid norandrosterone last month, forcing his rematch against fellow former welterweight titlist Victor Ortiz, which was scheduled for Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, to be canceled. The card is going ahead with Ortiz facing substitute opponent Josesito Lopez.
Ironically, Tarver is scheduled to work the card as a Showtime analyst. The network has not yet decided whether he will remain on the telecast.
“We have no comment at this point,” Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio told ESPN.com.
“We were taking pictures together and having a good time and then I get this news. It’s crazy,” Feder said. “Why would a guy do this? Why would he tarnish a stellar career? I’ve been a fan of his. And he has this great job with Showtime (as an analyst). I have to say I shake my head and say, ‘Why would he jeopardize this?’
“I want to believe somebody influenced Tarver to do this and that he would know better because I don’t want to believe he would initiate this. It’s still his fault though and he has to take the blame for it, but I actually feel bad for him. I feel bad for my fighter as well.”
“I told Lateef and he said, ‘Oh, man, I can’t believe it.’ He was shocked and then he started thinking, ‘I wonder if that’s how he came on late like he did? Maybe that’s what the drug was and he was able to come on late.’ Lateef said maybe it started to kick in because he said he didn’t really feel anything on Tarver’s punches earlier in the fight and then he really started to come on. He had this energy or something. Maybe that was the steroid?”
