Fres Oquendo tested positive after title fight against Ruslan Chagaev

As confirmed by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) ring veteran Fres Oquendo tested positive for the prohibited substances tamoxifin and anastrozole at the mandatory test taken after his WBA world heavyweight championship fight against Ruslan Chagaev on July 6th in Grozny (Russia). Oquendo now faces a suspension and will have to pay back his purse according to the bout agreement.

“We will donate that money to a charitable foundation”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “The whole circumstances surrounding the fight were very strange. Oquendo refused to travel to Grozny and didn’t show up for the official press conference and public workout. He then asked us to postpone the fight when the ring was already set up. His positive doping test now explains this behaviour”.

He probably thought that he couldn’t be convicted at a later time. Finally Oquendo and his team tried to blackmail us and ask for more money. And three months after the fight – probably after being informed about the positive testing – they came up with ridiculous claims and spoke badly about Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov and Andrey Ryabinsky even though both men had done their best to make sure that Oquendo and his team had a great time in Grozny”.

“Ramzan Kadyrov and Andrey Ryabinsky are men of honor. To talk about them the way Oquendo’s team did is just disgusting and another proof for their bad character.” Oquendo also publicly demanded a rematch – a claim that has to be dismissed, of course, after his positive doping test.

“Even though it was a close and competitive fight Ruslan Chagaev won fair and square and deserved the decision win. So there has never been a reason for a rematch”, adds Dugazaev. “Now that we know that Oquendo is a cheater there will certainly not be a second chance for him. Doping has no place in professional boxing!”

Maybe the suspension will even end the career of 41-year-old Oquendo. In the meantime WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has started preparation for his first title defense of his second reign which is supposed to take place in early 2015 in Germany. Details regarding the exact date and opponent will be announced soon.