Boxing has a new WBA heavyweight champion with a questionable past after a failed drug test seems to have been overlooked.
The boxing world was surprised enough when the WBA resurrected the controversial ‘Regular’ title. However, one detail seems to have been missed.
Two-time WBA champion Mahmoud Charr served out a suspension in 2018 after testing positive for two banned substances. At the time, the WBA did not strip him of the title.
They did so a year later when Charr could not follow through with a mandatory order against Trevor Bryan. How Charr was then able to recover his title through legal means is anyone’s guess.
The WBA could have argued that the failed tests would have been enough to keep the regular belt from returning to existence.
Charr was flagged under doping conditions by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, which he argued were not appropriately handled.
The heavyweight champion was suspended
” The results of the analysis are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen number 4256987: epitrenbolone and drostanolone metabolites detected,” said VADA of Charr’s sample.
At the time, Charr was due to face Fres Oquendo, another fighter who launched legalities against the WBA. WBN contacted Fres Oquendo’s representative, Bobby Hitz, who was unsure what would happen next.
“Yes, Manuel Charr did test positive, and I’m not sure of the status of the fight, “Hitz exclusively told World Boxing News.
“It’s a shame that, once again, this happens to Fres. This is the fourth time the opponent has tested positive. I can’t imagine why anyone would take such risks knowing the consequences.
“Fres has once again trained hard and was prepared to return the title to the USA.
“Now we just wait and see what lies ahead,” he added.
The tests were reported to the WBA on September 19, 2018, having been collected from Charr on August 31 from his training camp in Germany. The B sample was also positive.
Making a statement regarding Charr keeping his title at that time, the WBA said: “No boxer who has tested positive for prohibited substances can be rated, retain a title, or be permitted to fight in a sanctioned bout for no less than six months from the date of the positive test.
“Only the official testing authorized or directed by the Association or local commission shall be considered. No independent or after-the-fact testing [VADA] will be considered.”
Reinstated
How the WBA could disregard VADA like that and eventually allow Charr to continue as champion is a headscratcher. But then, to strip Charr over a visa issue when attempting to travel to America makes even less sense.
Fast forward two years, Charr was handed back the title following a hearing. The whole situation is a worse mess than first thought.
The only thing the WBA stipulated to Charr when allowing him to remain as champion following the adverse finding was that he enroll in a VADA program.
Yes, the same VADA program that they dismissed when the tests came back positive.
“Although VADA and the WBA had reason to assume that Charr did not intend to have a representative attend the opening and testing of the B sample, Charr claims that his requests regarding the B sample testing were not acknowledged,” said the WBA.
“Regardless of the disputes over communications and notice, Charr did not have a representative attend the B sample testing.
“Charr provided a third sample to VADA on September 29, 2018. That sample tested negative.
“Because of the lapse of time since the taking of the A and B samples and the communication issues alleged by Charr, the suspension is recalled,” they concluded.
The situation couldn’t be murkier if it swam in a mud bath.
