Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez banned from boxing for six months for failed drug tests

Mexican tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol in February ahead of rematch with Gennady Golovkin in May Suspension ends on August 17, with Golden Box Promotions saying Alvarez will return to the ring in September Japanese boxer Kenichi Ogawa also has suspension backdated, win over Tevin Farmer to win IBF super-featherweight title in December invalidated

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has been suspended until August 17 by the Nevada State Athletics Commission after a failed drugs test ahead of his rematch with Gennady Golovkin. John Gurzinski / AFP

Mexican Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Japan's Kenichi Ogawa have been suspended for six months following hearings with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after both boxers failed recent doping tests.

Alvarez was temporarily suspended by the NSAC after testing positive for banned substance clenbuterol in February and withdrew from his rematch against world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, which was scheduled for May 5.

In the settlement statement, the NSAC said the former two-weight world champion had co-operated with the investigation and thus his ban had been backdated to the first time he tested positive, meaning he can return to the ring from August 17.

"Canelo looks forward to returning to the ring in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend to represent Mexico and boxing in what will be the sport's biggest event of the year," Alvarez's promoters Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement.

"He is ready to continue his remarkable record of fighting at the highest level," it added of the 27-year-old pugilist, who has a 49-1-2 record.

According to an ESPN report, the NSAC stripped Ogawa of his IBF super-featherweight title, which he won by beating American Tevin Farmer on December 9, after the 30 year old's pre-fight tests were positive for two forms of androstanediol.

Teiken Gym, where Ogawa (23-1) trains, said on Thursday that the NSAC had also invalidated the fight and fined the boxer 20 per cent of his prize purse.

Ogawa's suspension has also been backdated to the first time he tested positive and his ban will be lifted on June 9.

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Comment: Alvarez v Golovkin the right outcome, but one judge turns boxing back into laughing stock

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