Alberto Puello will face a six-month suspension but avoided a fine or further disciplinary action for a prior drug test.
The five-member Nevada State Athletic Commission panel voted unanimously to bench the unbeaten Dominican through October 5 during its monthly agenda hearing held Tuesday at state headquarters in Las Vegas. The ruling stemmed from a prior positive drug test as produced from a sample collected by Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on April 5 and discovered on April 19.
Puello tested positive for the banned substance Clomiphene, which resulted in a temporary suspension and his being forced out of a scheduled May 13 Showtime main event versus Rolando Romero (15-1, 13KOs). He was due to make the first defense of his WBA junior welterweight title, which was removed from his possession as he was downgraded to ‘Champion in Recess.’
Romero went on to win the title via controversial ninth-round stoppage of mandatory challenger Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22KOs), who replaced Puello atop the Showtime tripleheader.
Puello (21-0, 10KOs) took ownership of the positive drug test and alleged that it was from a prescribed substance to help increase the chances of impregnating his wife.
“We already sent the evidence to the proper agencies,” Belgica Peña, Puello’s promoter, previously told Boxing Scene. “We have proof of the doctor visits, the hospital stays and his wife’s pregnancy.”
The WBA ruled to vacate the full title but to leave Puello as ‘Champion in Recess’ pending further developments in the matter.
The commission ruled during its May agenda hearing to extend the temporary suspension through June’s hearing, at which time the five-person panel was prepared to make a ruling.
While no fine was issued, Puello was ordered to pay $326 in attorney fees.
As for when he can become eligible to fight for his old title, that will be up to the WBA who has made a mess on its side of the 140-pound division.
Romero was permitted to challenge for Puello’s title despite coming off a knockout defeat and as a lightweight. He was placed in the WBA Top 15 rankings at junior welterweight and approved as a challenger for a voluntary defense during the WBA’s annual convention last December in Orlando, Florida.
The winner was due to face Barroso, but Puello’s removal from the fight sped up the process.
Per a WBA ruling, Romero was ordered to next face England’s Ohara Davies. Whether that fight takes place or Romero vacates and Davies faces the next available challenger for the title, Puello should be in position to re-enter the title mix once his six-month suspension is complete.
Puello claimed the vacant WBA junior welterweight title in a twelve-round points win over Batyr Akhmedov last August 20 in Hollywood, Florida.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox