Canelo Alvarez blames positive clenbuterol test on contaminated meat

Canelo Alvarez tested positive for clenbuterol ahead of his May 5 fight with Gennady Golovkin, and he says some contaminated meat is to blame.

Golden Boy Promotions announced in a statement Monday that Alvarez tested positive for trace levels of the substance. They even quoted a lab director who said the trace levels found in the test were consistent with meat contamination. Golden Boy says they notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission about the positive test.

Alvarez, who is from Mexico, says he will move his training came to the U.S. as was already planned in preparation for the fight. He says he will submit to further drug testing ahead of his rematch with GGG.

“I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it had never happened to me. I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail,” Alvarez said in a statement.

Clenbuterol is viewed as a performance-enhancing drug often used for cutting weight. Several athletes testing positive for it over the past 10 years. In 2013, Mexican boxer Erik Morales was banned for two years after a positive test for the substance. In 2016, boxer Francisco Vargas also tested positive for the substance. Golden Boy also attributed the positive test to contaminated meat.