Earlier today, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer gave a statement to the media in regards to the recent news that WBA/IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson had tested positive for synthetic testosterone ahead of his May 19th rematch with Amir Khan. The news, as covered by various media outlets, means that the rematch between Peterson and Khan, set to take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, is now very much up in the air.
In a brief statement, a slightly-perplexed Schaefer showed disappointment for initially not being informed by VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, of Peterson?s first failed test on April 12th. Schaefer says that representatives from Team Peterson are going to be contacting the Nevada State Athletic Commission in an effort to explain themselves and that he wil know within the next 48 hours whether the fight will still move forward or if it will be officially cancelled.
This is what Schaefer had to share?
Being informed of Peterson testing positive for a banned substance?
?We were informed, I got a call yesterday morning from Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He informed us that he had received a letter over the weekend from VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, where he was informed that Lamont Peterson has tested positive for substance consistent with the administration of a steroid. I was not copied in that letter. The letter was only sent to Keith Kizer, Jeff Reid, who is the legal representative for Lamont Peterson, Don Kaplan, who is a VADA consultant, and Ryan Connelly, who is their chief legal counsel. Why I was not informed, I cannot explain. It was rather shocking that I wasn?t copied in this letter, that nobody from Team Khan was copied in that letter, and that I go that call from Keith Kizer.?
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The facts as they were presented?
?Let me give you the facts as they were presented. A urine specimen was taken from both athletes on March 19th, 2012, which was an unannounced, unscheduled visit by the collections officers following the press conference in Los Angeles where both fighters were obviously present to announce the fight. That specimen was transported by the collections officer to the WADA, the World Anti-doping agency, accredited UCLA Olympic laboratory in Los Angeles, one of the leading laboratories in the world for Olympic-Style drug testing. All urine specimens collected for the VADA were split into an A and B sample. The results for Lamont Peterson?s A sample were reported by the lab on April 12th, 2012. Again, why we were not informed until yesterday, not even by VADA, but by the commission, is a mystery to me.?
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Peterson informed of the finding on April 13th?
?VADA informed the athlete, informed Lamont Peterson of adverse analytical finding on April 13th. They got the results on the 12th and informed Peterson on the 13th of April. They advised him as well as the right to have the B sample analyzed. The process of analyzing the B sample began at the laboratory on April the 30th, 2012. Why it took from the 13th of April to the 30th to actually get and test the B sample is a mystery to me. If I would been informed about it I certainly would have asked for an expedited testing and not wait more than two weeks to get this tested. VADA informed Peterson about the timing of the B sample testing at the UCLA lab and informed him, as per VADA rules, that the presence of one or more representatives from Peterson could be there. It?s my understanding that Lamont Peterson had a representative there. The results of the B sample confirmed the analytic results of the A sample and so, basically A and B samples showed that the athlete?s specimen are consistent with the administration of an anabolic steroid such as testosterone.?
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Waiting for a resolution?
?I was further informed in that letter there were follow-up samples taken from Peterson on April the 13th. The laboratory reported on that April sample that came back as negative on May the 2nd. So while the first ones were positive, the second one showed a negative. And that really is all we know. I discussed with Keith Kizer what is next and he informed me that Peterson?s attorneys will be submitting paperwork this afternoon to the Nevada Athletic Commission explaining themselves and explaining why there was a substance. Once they have received those paperwork and statements from Team Peterson, that they will then present to the commission and the chairman of the commission will then rule if in fact there will be a fight or not. That?s all I know at this point. I?m sure in the coming days; I assume by tomorrow, we will know where we stand. For the time being, Amir Khan continues to train. He was in the gym yesterday and had his running this morning. He?s obviously fully aware of the situation. He?s very disappointed but is going to follow whatever the athletic commission in Nevada is going to rule. And that?s where we stand.?
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