Canelo Alvarez tests positive for clenbuterol ahead of Gennady Golovkin rematch

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has tested positive for Clenbuterol ahead of his long awaited rematch with Gennady Golovkin on May 5.

Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator, but in sport, it is used as a muscle-building and weight-loss stimulant. Alvarez's promoters Golden Boy Promotions have attributed the positive test to meat contamination in Canelo's native home of Mexico. The promotion claim that Canelo will immediately move his training camp from Mexico to the United States where he will submit to any number and variety of additional tests that the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) deem necessary ahead of the Golovkin rematch. A statement from Golden Boy Promotions read: "As part of the voluntary testing program that Canelo Alvarez insisted on ahead of his May 5 fight, one of his results came back positive for trace levels of Clenbuterol, consistent with meat contamination that has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years.

“As Daniel Eichner, Director of SMRTL, the WADA-accredited lab that conducted the tests stated in his letter today, “These values are all within the range of what is expected from meat contamination.” “Upon receiving this information, Golden Boy immediately notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Gennady Golovkin’s promoter, Tom Loeffler. “As has been planned, Canelo will immediately move his training camp from Mexico to the United States and will submit to any number and variety of additional tests that VADA deems necessary ahead of and after May 5."

Alvarez said of the positive test:

"I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it had never happened to me. I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail."