Oscar Valdez’s sample A tested positive for phentermine, a central nervous system stimulant banned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, several sources told ESPN.
Valdez is scheduled to defend his 130-pound World Boxing Council (WBC) title against Robson Conceição on September 10 in Tucson, Arizona, a major Top Rank Boxing event on ESPN +.
The CMB will hold a Zoom meeting Wednesday with Valdez’s attorney, Pat English, along with Top Rank officials and the Arizona commission, sources said. A failure is expected from then on.
Top Rank declined to comment, as did Valdez manager Frank Espinoza and CMB president Mauricio Sulaimán. VADA founder Margaret Goodman does not return a phone call seeking comment.
VADA informed the parties involved of the test result on Sunday, sources said. The test was conducted as part of the CMB’s Net Boxing Program.
“I’ve personally given phentermine to athletes, I know what it does. It’s very powerful. It’s like methamphetamine,” Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, told ESPN. Conte served a prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs before founding SNAC, a sports nutrition company.
“Do you know why it’s a performance-enhancing drug? Because it’s a central nervous system stimulant,” he added. “It speeds up your heart rate. It gives you energy. It gives you endurance. It makes it easier to breathe. Your training time until exhaustion would be much longer.
When fighters register for VADA tests, as Valdez did, they are notified that there is no distinction between in-competition and out-of-competition. A list of prohibited substances is sent to the wrestler (phentermine is included).
The World Anti-Doping Agency considers phentermine to be a banned substance in competition, but not out of competition. The competition period begins at 11:59 pm the day before the fight and extends to the post-fight tests. However, VADA analyzes all banned substances at all times.
“If you don’t get stimulant tests, there’s such a big gap you can cross with a Mack truck,” Conte said. “Which of the 70 stimulants would you like to use?”
In a legal letter obtained by ESPN, English writes: “Mr. Valdez did not know that he was taking phentermine and that we believe that at this time it comes from an herbal tea.”
“It’s not an herbal tea, the molecular structure of phentermine is not an herbal tea,” Conte said. “It’s something for the dog to eat my homework. No promoter wants to lose money. This is not in contained supplements. It’s designed to help you lose weight. It’s an appetite suppressant, which is what you’re doing when you’re cutting weight. .
“It’s a prescription drug. Does it have a doctor’s prescription? Let’s see.”
VADA reports adverse analytical findings; does not award. However, there is a precedent for VADA rules that lead to punishment. Billy Joe Saunders tested positive for the banned stimulant oxylofrin prior to his scheduled title defense against Demetrius Andrade in 2018. The substance was considered out of competition by WADA, but Massachusetts acknowledged the VADA violation and went suspend Saunders. As a result, the fight was canceled.
Valdez, a 30-year-old Mexican, could choose to open his B sample after sentencing.
Top Rank promoted both Valdez and Conceição, however, ESPN informed the manager of the scorer of the adverse finding.
“I had no idea. I’m upset,” said Sergio Batarelli, a coach at Conceição in Brazil. “I know about you now by surprise.”
Valdez, ESPN’s No. 1 junior lightweight, won the title with a spectacular knockout knockout over Miguel Berchelt in February, the main KO contender of the year. The two-time Olympian was also champion in the 126 pounds.
Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) was defeated by Conceição when they faced in the fight for the gold medal of the Pan American Championship of 2009. Conceição (16-0, 8 KOs) won the gold in the 2016 Olympics. The 32-year-old Brazilian is not classified by ESPN.