Tribal Athletic Commission Approves WBC Champ Valdez Despite Failed Vada Tests
Tucson, Arizona (September 3rd, 2021)– The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission overseeing professional sporting events at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona. World Boxing Council World Boxing Council World Super Featherweight champion Oscar Valdez is scheduled to make the first defense of his title on ESPN+ on Friday, September 10, 2021, in the main event against 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Robson Conceicao of Brazil, has approved the WBC bout, despite Valdez testing positive in VADA ‘A’ and “B” samples for the banned diuretic phentermine.
The August 13 VADA test results came from Valdez’ WBC world titular winning bout over then defending champion Miguel Berchelt of Mexico at The Bubble at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 20, 2021. Berchelt, down in rounds four, nine and ten before getting counted out at 2:59 of the tenth round, could file legal challenges with the World Boxing Council, the Pascua Yaqui tribe in Arizona, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Phentermine weight loss is also commonly used as a masking agent for banned substances, including anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). On September 2, 2021, VADA revealed Valdez also failed the VADA “B” test sample.
Top Rank’s Valdez, 29-0, 23 knockouts, Sonora, Mexico, and Conceicao, 16-0, eight knockouts, Salvador, Brazil, the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games Lightweight Gold medalist, will fight the co-main event on the USA ESPN Friday night televised card. The other co-main event preceding will feature a World Boxing Organisation World Flyweight bout between 21-0 world champion Junto Nakatnai of Japan versus challenger 22-2 former WBO World Light Flyweight champion Angel Acosta of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 20-0 Las Vegas super featherweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. will fight 22-2 former WBO International Featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez Vargas of Mexicali, Mexico, in a 10 rounder on the undercard. Tucson’s Jose Ramirez will pro debut in the opening bout.
Voluntary Anti-Doping Association guidelines are supposed to be followed by American and foreign athletic commissions, and suspend the card pending the results of the VADA ‘B’ test sample. Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission is Native American, and is not using the VADA test results yet. It would be a first in boxing whereby a fighter could fail a VADA test, and still be allowed to defend their world title. The WBC has been silent on the controversy thus far, and could still take action pending the VADA ‘B”. Berchelt could be reinstated as WBC champion if his bout with Valdez is subsequently declared a No Contest. If Valdez versus Conceicao is to be removed from the ESPN card, the World Boxing Organization Flyweight world title bout would be moved up to the main event.
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