A former world title challenger has been handed a lengthy ban after testing positive for cocaine, only for doping authorities to learn that he passed away earlier this year.
Moises Calleros from Coahuila, Mexico, failed the drugs test after losing to Britain’s 2021 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai by fourth round stoppage in April 2023 on the undercard of Anthony Joshua‘s points win over US heavyweight Jermaine Franklin.
He returned to the ring with a first-round knockout in his homeland in December, but following an investigation into his failed test, the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) agency announced earlier today that he had been handed a four-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).
The full UKAD statement read: ‘Mexican Professional Boxer Moises Calleros has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for four years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance.
‘Mr Calleros was tested by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) on 1 April 2023 after his bout against Galal Yafai at the London O2 Arena. Analysis of his Sample revealed the Presence of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. Cocaine is prohibited In-Competition. It is also categorised as a ‘Substance of Abuse’ on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List.
Moises Calleros (pictured) has been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for cocaine, but he died in March
He tested positive for cocaine following his fight with Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai (left) last year
Yafai beat Calleros by fourth round stoppage at the O2 Arena in London in April 2023
‘UKAD notified and charged Mr Calleros with ADRVs for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance and provisionally suspended him. The case was then later referred to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) to determine whether the ADRVs were proved and, if so, the appropriate Consequences.
‘The NADP concluded that Mr Calleros had committed both ADRVs and issued the boxer with a four-year ban from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport. While shorter bans are available for athletes who can establish that cocaine use or ingestion took place Out-Of-Competition and in a context unrelated to sport, Mr Calleros did not put forward evidence to meet those requirements.
‘Mr Calleros is entitled to credit for the time he spent provisionally suspended, so his ban is deemed to have commenced on 8 June 2023 and will end at midnight on 7 June 2027.’
However, they were completely unaware that Calleros died at the start of March.
Later on Monday, UKAD released a further statement acknowledging their error, which read: ‘UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today received information regarding the death of Mexican professional boxer Moises Calleros.
‘UKAD received this information shortly after publishing details of the outcome from a case concerning Mr Calleros in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.
‘Unfortunately, UKAD had no information regarding Mr Calleros’ sad passing at the time of publication and has now removed all details of this case from its channels.’
Calleros passed away at the age of 34 following a suspected heart attack at his home in Juarez, Mexico, as reported by OK Diario.
He was found dead after his close relatives lost contact with him and went to look for him at his house.
His death was confirmed by his team-mate, David ‘El Kenyano’ Galvan, who learned of Calleros’ death through the boxer’s wife.
Calleros’s positive test came after fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s points win over Jermaine Franklin
Calleros had 49 fights in his professional career, winning 37 of them, along with 11 losses and one draw.
He fought for the WBO minimumweight title against Japan’s Ryuya Yamanaka in March 2018, but was pulled out by his corner after eight rounds.
Calleros went on to fight current flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez in 2020, before taking on Yafai last year.
That was his first fight on British soil, and he subsequently tested positive for cocaine in the aftermath of the bout at the O2 Arena in London.
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