Veteran Francisco Rodriguez Jr earned the biggest win of his pro career by demolishing Galal Yafai for the interim WBC flyweight title last month, only to test positive for an undefined banned substance.
The WBC sent out a statement this past Saturday confirming that “Chihuas” failed for Heptaminol, a vasodilator used to treat hypotension (low blood pressure). This makes it an effective boost to cardio that’s been utilized by swimmers and cyclists in the past, and considering that Rodriguez (39-6-1,
27 KO) used freakish pressure and volume to tame Yafai, it’s more than a little suspicious.
The WBC’s report, however, claims that the ingestion was accidental, citing “the use of an over-the-counter energy booster” that Rodriguez reported taking. Thus, despite overturning the Yafai fight to a No Contest, they’ve limited Rodriguez’s punishment to a 12-month “probation” period and ordered a rematch.
I could maybe buy all of that in a vacuum, but we’re not in a vacuum. It’s impossible to argue at this point that the WBC doesn’t play favorites when it comes to PED’s; Luis Nery, Canelo Alvarez, Oscar Valdez, all enjoyed a bizarre level of credulity from Mauricio Sulaiman when they tested positive. Were I still a betting man, I’d put a tidy sum on Jaime Munguia receiving similar leeway.
It also doesn’t help Rodriguez’s case that, as Eddie Hearn discovered and the Texas commission confirmed, his December win over Josue Jesus Morales was likewise overturned due to a doping violation. No word as to whether it was the same substance.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has yet to release its own assessment, which will undoubtedly be far more punitive.
More from badlefthook.com:
- What’s next for Terence Crawford? Is a jump to PBC in his near future?
- Dave Allen announces retirement from boxing at 28
- Fury’s return pushed back to 2021, Dec. 5 date off
- Pros react to Crawford’s sudden stoppage win over Brook
- Arum furious over Franco-Moloney 2 decision, threatens to “get the f*** out of Vegas”
- Hearn: It’s ‘laughable’ to rate Fury’s resume over Joshua’s
- Brook ponders retirement after KO loss to Crawford
