?Antonio Tarver, I publicly apologized for my words to you on the telephone press conference now I await your public apology.??Steve Cunningham
?I am 100% innocent.??Tarver
?I have no idea how my urine sample tested positive because I didn?t take anything illegal. Either the test was contaminated or mixed-up with another sample. We believe in the process and I will fully comply. Further analysis will prove I?m 100% innocent because I?ve done nothing wrong.??Tarver
A report out of Moscow claims a match between Jones and Tarver?their fourth?will be held in Russia but if so, Russia will have to ignore the fact that Tarver reportedly has once again failed another drug test, his second in the last three years. See http://sputniknews.com/sport/20151019/1028778124.html
First, he failed a test when he drew with Lateef Kayode in 2012 in a cruiserweight bout. This one was later declared an ?N? because Tarver tested positive for Drostalonone Maseron, an ancillary steroid used to combat estrogenic side effects caused by mass-building steroids such as water retention.
Now, according to an article on SI.com, he has apparently failed a test for his fight with Steve Cunningham in August, testing positive for a banned substance (synthetic testosterone) prior to the bout on both the ?A? and ?B? samples. This one also ended in a draw: http://www.si.com/boxing/2015/10/19/antonio-tarver-failed-drug-test-steve-cunningham-premier-boxing-championship
Scott Christ of BLH also reports, ?Tarver was suspended for one year by the California commission in 2012, and he could face stiffer consequences this time if New Jersey takes action, too. Tarver also wound up losing his job as a Showtime commentator after failing the test in 2012. He currently works as a commentator for Spike.?
If this report holds up, the 46-year-old Tarver will be banned and a suspension of a year or more?one year would be lenient?could effectively end his boxing career not to mention his job as Spike commentator.
Ted Sares is one of the world?s oldest active power lifters and holds several world and state records. He enjoys writing about boxing.
