WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has officially announced that Subriel Matias, the reigning super-lightweight champion, has tested positive for a prohibited substance, raising alarms just weeks before his scheduled championship clash with England’s Dalton Smith. This bout is set to take place on January 10 in Brooklyn, New York, and the recent developments have cast a pall over the matchup that many fans were eagerly anticipating.
Matias, a 33-year-old pugilist hailing from Puerto Rico, boasts an impressive professional record of 23 victories, two defeats, and an astounding 22 knockouts. His successful title defense in July, where he claimed victory over Dominican fighter Alberto Puello, had further solidified his standing in the boxing world. However, this latest revelation threatens to derail his career momentum and puts his championship status in jeopardy.
The troubling news of Matias’s failed drug test emerged on Friday, revealing that he tested positive in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) examination. The implications of this positive test are serious, not only for Matias but also for the integrity of the sport itself. In a statement regarding the situation, Sulaiman revealed, “The WBC has received notification from VADA about an adverse finding from a test performed by WBC super-lightweight champion Subriel Matias.”
In response to the discovery of the failed test, the WBC has initiated an investigation under the guidelines of its Clean Boxing Program protocol. This procedural step is critical to ensure fairness and transparency in the sport. Sulaiman indicated that he has been in communication with Matias and his promoter, Mr. Orengo. Both parties have expressed their commitment to cooperating fully as the investigation unfolds. “I have spoken to our champion Subriel and his Promoter Mr. Orengo, and they have expressed their absolute availability and cooperation as the process unfolds,” Sulaiman stated.
Matias now finds himself in a precarious position, with a deadline of December 1 to formally request a test of his B-sample. This next step is vital, as it could potentially alter the course of the investigation and impact his eligibility to compete in the upcoming bout against Dalton Smith. Until the resolution of this issue, the WBC has opted to remain tight-lipped about further developments.
The boxing community is now left on edge, aware that the outcome of this investigation could have significant ramifications not only for Matias’s career but also for the entire super-lightweight division. Fans, analysts, and fellow athletes are anxiously awaiting further updates, as the specter of this issue looms large over the anticipated January 10 showdown. As the days progress, it remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and what consequences it might have for the fighters involved and the sport as a whole.
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