By Jake Donovan

Donovan ‘Don Da Bomb’ George reached to BoxingScene.com to offer clarification on the circumstances surrounding his suspension.

The super middleweight contender was informed by the Illinois Boxing Commission that he “tested positive for a banned substance.” The positive result came during the post-fight drug testing from his 12-round points win over Dyah Davis on August 23 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois.

George (25-2-2-1NC, 22KOS) fought through much of the night with a broken hand, re-aggravating an injury he suffered 10 days prior to the fight. The Chicagoland puncher was given an anti-inflammatory prescription for pain relief, but failed to disclose beforehand to the Illinois Boxing Commission.

The medication showed up in the test result, prompting the suspension. The outcome of the bout was also changed to a No-Contest.

All parties were apparently informed by the commission, including the International Boxing Organization (IBO), who withdrew its recognition of George as its super middleweight titlist.

“The bottom line is I hurt my hand the week before my fight and there was no way I was pulling out so I didn't tell anyone or the commission,” George informed BoxingScene.com. “So I tested positive for Tylenol 3 that my doctor prescribed and told me to take for the pain.

“It's a total joke. All these guys (are) using PEDs, and I get popped for a baby pain medication. That's life, man.”

George has since secured a December 6 showdown with Jean Pascal in Montreal, Canada. Whether or not the fight will go through could depend on a number of factors, particularly how long the suspension will last. The belief is that it began from the night of the fight, which means George would be cleared to fight by November 23, in time to still make the date.

Of course, he is still technically eligible to fight in Canada, whose commission—while a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC)—falls just outside the parameters of those to be honored by all 50 states, whom are required to honor any suspension.

“[W]e would hope that [an] ABC member commission [would] follow (the) suspension of fellow commissions,” noted ABC President Tim Lueckenhoff, though confirming that Canada’s boxing commission is not obligated to honor the suspension.

Regardless of whether the showdown with Pascal can still take place, George is forced to live with the taint of being branded dirty (unfairly or otherwise) by his home commission. Through it all, he still finds a bright side.

“I'm crushed about this but right now I'm focused on my wife and our twins that will be here any day now,” George optimistically states.



Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox