Dana Coolwell’s U.S. adventure resulted in back-to-back-defeats and now a lengthy suspension following a positive drug test.
The 26-year-old Australian featherweight was issued an 18-month ban following drug testing results surrounding his April 5 defeat to Albert ‘Chop Chop’ Gonzalez. Coolwell lived up to his ‘Deadly’ nickname for the wrong reasons, when the presence of banned anabolic agent Oxymetholone was detected in his post-fight urinalysis.
Their eight-round bout was part of a supporting undercard to the Richard Torrez Jnr-Guido Vianello heavyweight clash. The show aired live on ESPN+ from Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, under the supervision of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
A ruling was unanimous approved by the panel during the commission’s June 20 meeting to suspend and fine ($3,500) Coolwell for his actions.
The 18-month suspension is backdated to fight night. Coolwell is banned from fighting anywhere in the U.S. until October 4, 2026. He is also required to commit to random drug testing through a commission approved program and must produce clean results prior to reinstatement.
How it will affect his career overseas – if at all – remains to be seen.
Coolwell, 13-4 (8 KOs) fought predominantly in Australia prior to last fall. He was tabbed as the opponent for rising featherweight Bruce Carrington, 15-0 (9 KOs), who won an eight-round shutout in their November 15 clash on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson undercard in Arlington, Texas.
The setback snapped a six-fight win streak. Coolwell is now winless in his last two starts, his last victory which came last March 23 in Caloundra, Australia.
Oxymetholone was first classified as an anabolic steroid in 2004 and is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned list, both in- and out-of-competition. Its primary use in sports is to increase muscle strength and fat-free mass. The substance is FDA-approved only as a prescription-only treatment for anemia, though less common due to its damaging side effects.
Ironically, Coolwell's pro journey after he overcame drug and alcohol addiction as a teenager. He credits boxing with turning around his life after a very dark childhood that included his father's passing when Coolwell was just 13 years old.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .