Ed Mulholland

Canelo Alvarez has been handed a six-month suspension for two failed drug tests in the build-up to an now failed rematch with Gennady Golovkin.

On the day Golovkin announced his opponent for a May 5th return at the StubHub Center in California, Canelo was handed a reduced ban cut from the recommended twelve months.

The motion was unanimously approved after consultation with Canelo and his team, who deny the banned substance was ever intentionally ingested.

Canelo will now be free to face Golovkin on September 15 in a highly anticipated return of their controversial clash last September.

The Mexican earned a debated split draw having been seemingly out-worked by the hardened Kazakh puncher.

Lance Pugmire of the L.A Times sat in during the hearing and reported the following on the case:

Nevada Chairman Anthony Marnell III agreed to a six-month suspension from February 17 to August 17, 2018. “We believe this is a fair resolution to this case,” said Marnell, and came with Canelo’s full co-operation in the matter.

All sides agreed with the motion and will now move forward with future events.

With his reputation hit by what has now turned out to be a scandal, Canelo has much work to do to repair the damage a double failure brings. On the flip side, Golovkin has echoed his disapproval on many occasions – more recently with a video dig at Canelo’s excuse of contaminated meat from Mexico.

Pugmire also revealed that Canelo’s February 17 test was the FIRST TIME EVER the two-weight world champion had been tested in his home country despite several questions regarding participation in random drug testing.

As Golovkin now battles Vanes Martirosyan on May 5th, Canelo will be waiting in the wings to agree their belated encounter later this year.