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Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer
Undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner tested positive for two banned substances during a voluntary anti-doping test leading into her July 15 fight against Christina Linardatou, her promoter, Matchroom Boxing, announced Wednesday.
Baumgardner, who defeated Linardatou by unanimous decision in her first defense of her undisputed title, released a statement saying she had tested positive for mesterolone and methenolone acetate metabolites in her pre-fight “A Sample” on July 12, but her tests after the fight on July 15 and another test on July 16 both came back clean.
“Two substances I’ve never heard of or used in any way,” Baumgardner said in the statement, which was posted to social media.
“To be abundantly clear, I know that I never have, never would, and never will take this or any other drug. Not only would doing so be unethical, but it would also be completely contrary to how I’ve trained my entire career.”
Matchroom Boxing said in a statement that it was informed of “adverse analytical finding” on Aug. 12 and that it would defer to “regulatory authorities … for further action and guidance as a full investigation is conducted.”
Baumgardner said she had “no intention of sitting back in silence and letting this play out.”
Matchroom Boxing said it would assist Baumgardner and her team, “affording her the appropriate due process.”
Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KO) is the second Matchroom fighter to test positive in an anti-doping test this month after Dillian Whyte failed a test in the lead up to his fight against Anthony Joshua.