Steroid accusation is now becoming a common scenario in boxing. Boxers and or trainers usually accuse their opponents for using performance enhancing drugs. It started with Floyd Mayweather Jr when he accused Manny Pacquiao of using steroids. Then the rest followed. A few weeks ago, the camp of Victor Ortiz insinuated that Andre Berto is taking steroids. WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was also accused by his rival Dereck Chisora of juicing. Whether this is just a hype or a serious accusation, it helps promote their fights in some way.

And recently, Marcos Maidana’s camp also used the same allegation. His adviser requested the Missouri athletic commission to test Devon Alexander for steroids because they suspect the latter is also juicing. Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KO’s) and Devon Alexander (22-1, 13 KO’s) will be brawling for a non-title fight on February 25 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Commission Responded by Testing Boxers

The Missouri Office of Athletics responded to this issue by requiring both boxers to undergo anabolic steroid testing before and after the fight. Executive director Tim Lueckenhoff told RingTV that he made the decision to dispel fears of Maidana’s camp that the St. Louis native is taking performance enhancing drugs. Lueckenhoff told RingTV that Maidana’s adviser emailed him claiming Alexander is using illegal drugs.

The executive director responded to Sebastian Contursi, Maidana’s adviser, saying that a steroid test will be conducted either using blood or urine sample. “We’re going to take my office out of the equation since Alexander’s from St. Louis and I want to make sure that there is no cheating,” Lueckenhoff said. Contursi, on the other hand, denied that he named Alexander in his allegation.

Independent Lab Will take Charge of the Steroid Tests

Although the athletic commission conducts their own anti-doping tests on all boxers, they decided to give it to an independent laboratory. This is to appease the other party that no favorable treatment will be given to Alexander. “I wanted to make sure that this is a totally neutral situation and to let everyone know that there is nothing being done inappropriately,” Lueckenhoff told the boxing site.

The cost of the steroid testing will be shouldered by the Golden Boy Promotions who is tasked to look for a neutral laboratory. The steroid tests will be conducted before and after the fight. “So there’s going to be drug testing before the weigh-in, and when the fight’s over, they’re going to walk straight to the locker room, and they’re not going to leave that area for a press conference or interviews or anything else until they give a sample,” the commission said.

Meanwhile the trainer of Devon Alexander is not worried of the anti-doping test. He said that the accusation is false. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re ready to take whatever tests that they can come up with,” said Cunningham, Alexander’s trainer.

Even if Alexander is not on steroids, it will be difficult for Maidana to clinch a win. BoxingNews reported that Alexander has never been beaten in his home town. Alexander even won the last two controversial fights against Lucas Matthysse and Andriy Kotelnik. These were held at Saint Louis. So the best thing Maidana could do is to knock his opponent to ensure his win on February 25.

Alexander and Maidana will be fighting in the welterweight division. This will be their first. The WBO super featherweight title is also at stake in the undercard event when champion Adrien Broner meets challenger Eloy Perez.

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