By Hilmar Rojas
This past weekend the news stunned a lot of people, when it was revealed that WBA super middleweight world champion Felix Sturm tested positive for stanozolol after winning his world championship rematch with Russia's Fedor Chudinov.
Felix Sturm was told in an email on Friday that he had tested positive for stanozolol, a type of steroid popular among bodybuilders. The test took place after his victory over Chudinov on February 20.
Sturm's result was from the "A-sample," and he said he'd demanded a test of "B-sample" that he provided on the same day.
"At first I was shocked," Sturm told German news agency SID. "This is all very strange, mainly that it took eight weeks until I was told the results. Germany's professional boxers' association was not informed of the positive test either, just me and my fitness trainer."
"There have been many cases where the B test disproves the first results," the boxer, born in Bosnia, said. "I'm not worried. I'm 1,000-percent sure I've done nothing wrong."
Should the B test support the initial findings, Sturm would face a two-year ban from the ring. Given his age, this could mean an early end to his career.
The WBA has issued a statement. They are going to stand back until the outcome of the B-sample testing. If Sturm comes up positive again, he will lose his title (with the belt being returned to Chudinov) and the fight will be ruled a no-contest.
"The World Boxing Association will make a decision regarding the doping case of Felix Sturm after the B-sample test results are known. After this happens, the World Championships Committee will act in accordance with regulations.
"The current champion of the super middleweight division tested positive for anabolic steroids, specifically Hydro-Stanozolol, after obtaining his belt by defeating Russian Fedor Chudinov on the 20th of February.
"The World Boxing Association and World Championships Committee hope this is only a misunderstanding. However, no action will be taken until we know the result of the analysis of the "B-sample." Sturm's team has decided to exercise the right to open [the B-sample] and we hope the results are known by mid-May."
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