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Doping positive dethrones heavyweight champion Toney
Boxer James Toney has tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone and has been stripped of the victory that made him the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion.
Toney was also fined 10,000 dollars and banned from fighting for 90 days. That could become a two-year ban once the WBA imposes its punishments, which also will include stripping Toney of the heavyweight crown and returning it to Ruiz, an unpopular champion for his plodding, hug-filled style of fighting. Toney denied that he has ever taken any performance-enhancing substance. "I've never used any illegal substances to prepare myself for a fight," Toney said. "Being accused of taking performance enchancing substances is an insult to me. I don't do drugs. Period." Dan Goossen, promoter for the 36-year-old American fighter, confirmed that Toney tested positive for nandrolone. Goossen said medications Toney took to treat injuries that wiped out two prior fights led to the positive test. "Toney received medical treatment for recovery from his biceps and triceps surgery last year," Goossen said. "His doctor has stated that the combination of medications used to control the inflammation and tissue growth caused the positive test result. "This is further supported since the body, in combination with the medications, naturally create the form of substance (nandrolone) reflected in the test results." Toney's steroid positive comes two weeks after US lawmakers conducted a hearing into steroids in American football and just days after they gave preliminary approval to forming an oversight committee to regulate boxing. New York state rules call for the fight to be declared no contest with any decision regarding possession of a title to be made by the sanctioning body. WBA rules require the title to revert to the original champion if a triumphant challenger fails of a doping test. So Ruiz - who retired after the fight but said two days ago he would fight again - is set to reclaim the WBA crown and a dubious place among hopefuls for a unified championship. "We are waiting for the WBA to immediately implement its rule," Ruiz lawyer Anthony Cardinale said. "We're glad the truth has come out and Johnny hasn't lost his championship." Toney looked overweight but not bulked up but became only the third former middleweight champion in boxing history to claim a heavyweight crown, following compatriot Roy Jones and 1890s fighter Bob Fitzsimmons. Toney would be eligible to appeal before a WBA committee in hopes of keeping his crown. "It would be unjust for the sport to reprimand a fighter who was under a doctor's care and direction many months before in healing a career threatening injury," Goossen said. Norman Stone, Ruiz's manager and a man who traded verbal pre-fight blows with Toney, was rejoicing after the decision despite his man's unpopularity. "All I've ever heard was how bad Johnny Ruiz was for boxing. Who's bad for boxing now?" Stone said. "Toney's always talking about being a man. Well, he should be a man and admit what he did instead of making excuses."
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