CSAC provides stance on TRTs

CSAC provides stance on TRTs
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 1, 2014


Thursday, the combat sports world was shaken by the news that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has banned testosterone-replacement-therapy (TRT) in all combat sports.

That ruling was passed by a unanimous vote, also eliminating the potential for fighters in the future to apply for an exemption for therapeutic use of testosterone.

The news left many wondering how commissions in other large and influential states would react.

Saturday afternoon, the California State Athletic Commission provided RingTV.com with their stance on TRT moving forward, through CSAC executive director Andy Foster.

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Sturm-Soliman ruled no contest

Sturm-Soliman ruled no contest
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
April 29, 2013


After just shy of three months of deliberating and waiting for the process to play itself out, the Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer (BDB) have suspended Sam Soliman for nine months stemming from the illegal supplement he tested positive for after his fight with Felix Sturm on Feb. 1.

The bout, which Soliman initially won, has been ruled a no contest.

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Bits & Pieces: May Day

Bits & Pieces: May Day
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
April 20, 2013


RingTV.com was in attendance at the recent Floyd Mayweather media day workout, which took place at his gym, the Mayweather Boxing Club, in North Las Vegas. Here is an assortment of comments and notes gathered during that event.

Floyd: “I was the pioneer” of drug testing 
RingTV.com was in attendance at the recent Floyd Mayweather media day workout, which took place at his gym, the Mayweather Boxing Club, in North Las Vegas. Here is an assortment of comments and notes gathered during that event.

Mayweather's time was scarce Wednesday as over 50 media members packed his gym in order to talk to him a few weeks out from his Showtime Pay Per View fight with Robert Guerrero.

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Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence

Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 29, 2013

LAS VEGAS--One new wrinkle in Saturday's anticipated return bout between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, and a recently developed storyline, is the news of the addition of strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia to the camp of Rios.

Heredia is most recently known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez, transforming the veteran from a soft looking junior welterweight to the cut-to-shreds welterweight version that starched Manny Pacquiao abruptly last December. Prior to that, Heredia’s checkered past of helping athletes with performance enhancing drugs and then testifying against them made him a recognizable name.

Rios told RingTV.com after Thursday's press conference that he talked to Heredia in December, before Pacquiao-Marquez IV.

“I approached him at Pacquiao-Marquez and told him how Marquez looked good, healthy,” said Rios. “I told him we need to work together, but we didn't start working together until this rematch with Mike became official.”

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Bits and pieces: Groves added to Abraham-Stieglitz card

Bits and pieces: Groves added to Abraham-Stieglitz card
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 20, 2013


Groves added to Stieglitz-Abraham bill Saturday
Sauerland Events confirmed Thursday that super middleweight contender George Groves will appear on their Saturday bill headlined by Robert Stieglitz' rematch against WBO titleholder Arthur Abraham in Magdeburg, Germany.

Groves (17-0, 13 knockouts) is being showcased as a potential future challenger to the winner, which makes sense given his No. 2 ranking in the WBO. He made his first appearance under the Matchroom Sport banner just two weekends ago, scoring a third-round stoppage over journeyman Dario Balmacedo just days after parting ways with Frank Warren.

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Soliman's banned substance identified

Soliman's banned substance identified
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 5, 2013

In an update to an earlier story, the performance enhancing drug that 39-year old Australian veteran middleweight Sam Soliman tested for in his A-sample when facing Felix Sturm last month was oxilofrine, an amphetamine-class stimulant.

The positive test was made apparent by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), the organization in charge of drug testing in German sports. NADA does Olympic-style drug testing and is affiliated with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), applying WADA's list of prohibitive substances, which can be found here.

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Soliman tests positive for banned substance after Sturm fight

Soliman tests positive for banned substance after Sturm fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 2, 2013


At age 39, it seemed as though Australian middleweight veteran Sam Soliman had finally gotten a career defining victory, as he outpointed former middleweight titlist Felix Sturm over twelve tough rounds on Feb. 1, somehow prevailing on the scorecards in Sturm's backyard in Germany.

Unfortunately, news has just surfaced that Soliman tested positive for a yet to be determined designer drug in his post-fight A-sample, as confirmed by German Boxing Federation president Thomas Putz. They could now open Soliman's B-sample if Soliman's team asks for it to be opened, which could take place in the next week.

Though the substance has yet to be named, it has been narrowed down to an amphetamine that is performance enhancing. It is often used in cycling and helps produce a higher amount of oxygen.

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Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 24, 2012


Last Friday at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Nonito Donaire fired a pitch high but over the plate on Filipino Heritage Night prior to the hometown Athletics' game with the Cleveland Indians.

TQBR spoke to Donaire as he left the field on a variety of topics surrounding his compelling Oct. 13 HBO-televised scrap with longtime junior featherweight force Toshiaki Nishioka in Carson, Calif. at the Home Depot Center.

“It is very exciting for me,” Donaire said. “Like Nishioka said, it is not about the titles, it is not about anything, it is about fighting that guy. I believe that I have a lot to prove with Nishioka and we have great respect for each other. "

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