Tarnished.
Antonio Tarver tested positive for synthetic testosterone, a banned substance, leading up to his disappointing draw against Steve Cunningham on Aug. 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
With this being the second positive test in three years for the former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, now the question becomes, ‘How long has Tarver been dirty?’
That is the risk one takes when they bend the rules. When Antonio Margarito was busted having Plaster of Paris in his hand wraps, he faced similar questions.
Beginning with Margarito’s seventh-round stoppage of Sergio Martinez in February 2000 to his 11th round TKO of Miguel Cotto in July 2008, 15 of Margarito’s 17 victories in that timespan came by way of knockout or stoppage.
What has not helped Margarito is being prevaricate; that only makes it worse, and Tarver seems to be following the same path.
“I have no idea how my urine sample tested positive because I didn’t take anything illegal,” Tarver told TMZ. “Either the test was contaminated, or mixed-up with another sample. We believe in the process and I will fully comply. Further analysis will prove I’m 100% innocent because I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Now, some of Tarver’s biggest wins, including his sensational second-round stoppage of Roy Jones Jr. in 2004, are now in question.
For the record, in each fight Tarver has tested positive for, he’s looked terrible, and they have all ended in draws. But that doesn’t necessarily exculpate him from any wrongdoing.
It ends up being more embarrassing than anything else.
Boxing fans are not dumb. Having one positive test for a mistake is one thing, but two? Now, we have entered a zone of either stupidity or carelessness. Either state of mind is not going to fly with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.
This is the same board that in 2011, suspended the three judges involved in the controversial majority decision victory that Paul Williams received over Erislandy Lara.
Who knows? Tarver could be innocent, but at some point, he is going to have to be an adult and take responsibility for his mistakes.
Going back to stupidity or carelessness, the three judges in the Williams-Lara debacle could be some of the finest people one will have an opportunity to meet.
It does not matter in these type of scenarios. Lara won the fight so clearly it was not even close. As a result, the judges were stuck trying to defend whether they legitimately believed their score was viable or if they were visually impaired in some way.
This is not the first time that a boxer failed a drug test and looked poor in the fight.
Mariusz Wach was suspended for a year for steroid use following a title fight against Wladimir Klitschko in which he lost every round in a rout.
Fernando Vargas was handed a nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for anabolic steroids after getting stopped by Oscar De La Hoya in 2002.
The only way to eradicate the issue of PEDS in our sport is to come down with harsh, and I mean harsh. Tarver should never be allowed to fight again until he can prove that he is innocent.
He will likely see a more severe penalty by virtue of this latest positive test.
Meanwhile, his legacy?
Tarnished.
– Ryan O’Hara @OHaraSports
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