WBC super featherweight champion francisco Vargas update

(Photo: W.B.C.)

Francisco Vargas

The World Boxing Council wishes to announce that the situation concerning WBC super featherweight champion Francisco Vargas and the positive result from the anti-doping test, performed as part of his voluntary enrollment in the Clean Boxing Program and which is administered exclusively by VADA, is being addressed in the most professional and transparent way.

Vargas spoke to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman and expressed his disappointment, as this situation could picture him in the wrong manner. At the same time, he expressed that he is calm, working hard, and training for June 4. Vargas is absolutely certain that the positive test comes from a delicious and traditional dish that his mother cooked, a broth with beef that he ate for dinner the night he was tested and the following day for lunch.

Vargas was tested in California, with a negative result, just five days before the test conducted in Mexico. He traveled to Mexico for his training camp for the Salido fight, which will take place on June 4, and the test showed positive. There is well-documented history of this type of positive results of Clenbuterol in Mexico, especially in soccer, and it is well known that beef is in many instances the source of the positive test.

Vargas has demanded the WBC and the corresponding authorities to take any action to make sure that his name and reputation is cleared from this very unfortunate situation. He enrolled voluntarily in the random testing program, which by itself is clear evidence that he is a clean fighter.

The WBC congratulates the California State Athletic Commission for the way they have handled this matter, which brings certainty to the boxing world that doping issues must by handled immediately and  openly, but at the same time, with absolute responsibility to make sure justice prevails.

The WBC also wishes to acknowledge the exemplary and monumental work done by VADA and Dr. Margaret Goodman with the sole intention to keep our sport clean and safe for the contestants.