positive test for Steroids, I had the opportunity today to
speak with Marc Ratner
(Exec. Director) of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT -VARGAS TESTED POSITIVE
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
Photo: Michael V. Ornelas/INSIDE BOXING
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INSIDE BOXING (10/03/02) - As a follow up to our September 27th article about
Vargas' confirmed
positive test for Steroids, I had the opportunity today to
speak with Marc Ratner
(Exec. Director) of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Ron: So Marc, has the official complaint been filed yet?
Marc: I have the "official" complaint in my hand now and it will be filed tomorrow morning (10/04/02) at 8:00 AM Pacific time with the Deputy Attorney General of Nevada."
Ron: What happens next?
Marc: "Fernando Vargas will then have approximately twenty days to respond to the Commission's complaint. This places the schedule of the hearing sometime in early November. The exact date is not known at the time."
Additionally, Marc clearly re-emphasized that, "I have a lot of respect for Fernando Vargas and we will see to it that he receives complete due process and I will not speculate on the outcome."
I have read where Vargas had stated that if he did take Steroids, it was without his knowledge. Unfortunately, he very well may be held accountable anyway for this infraction to help preserve the integrity of the sport.
I have a lot of respect for the Nevada Commission as they have demonstrated in the past that they are committed to doing what's right for the sport of boxing. This is the same commission that fined Mike Tyson $3 million dollars for biting Holyfield's ear, the same commission that refused to re-instate Tyson's license to fight in Nevada, and the same commission that fined Zab Judah $75,000 plus a six-month suspension for touching the referee for stopping the fight after Kostya Tszyu knocked him down.
I would love to see ALL sports take this same stand against Steroids.
I personally think it may come down to a suspension, a fine, or even a combination of both, but who knows how it will unfold. I guess we will all know sometime in November.
You have just gone insideBOXING.com.
Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com