- Boxer banned for four years after testing positive for cocaine
- However, doping authorities were apparently unaware that he had died three months earlier.
A former world title challenger was given a lengthy suspension after testing positive for cocaine, only for doping officials to learn he died earlier this year.
Moises Calleros, from Coahuila, Mexico, failed a drugs test after a fourth-round stoppage loss to Great Britain's 2021 Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's points win over U.S. heavyweight boxer Jermaine Franklin in April 2023.
He returned to the ring in December with a first-round knockout victory in his home country but has been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADP), the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) announced today, following an investigation into failed tests.
Here is the UKAD statement in full: “Mexican professional boxer Moises Calleros has been banned for four years from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sports for an anti-doping rule violation involving the presence and use of a prohibited substance (ADRV).”
Calleros was tested by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) after his match against Galar Yafai at the O2 Arena in London on 1 April 2023. Analysis of his sample showed the presence of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. Cocaine is prohibited for use in competition and is classified as a “substance of abuse” on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.
UKAD issued an ADRV notice to Mr Calleros for the presence and use of a prohibited substance and provisionally suspended him, after which the case was referred to an independent National Anti-Doping Committee (NADP) to determine whether an ADRV had been established and, if so, what appropriate sanctions would be imposed.
“The NADP concluded that Mr Calleros committed both ADRVs and imposed a four-year ban on the boxer from all sports governed by the World Anti-Doping Code. A shorter ban may be imposed on athletes who can prove that the use or intake of cocaine occurred outside of competition and in a non-sport-related context, but Mr Calleros did not provide evidence to meet that requirement.”
“Mr. Calleros is entitled to a credit for the period during which he served his provisional suspension, and therefore his suspension will be deemed to have commenced on June 8, 2023 and to have ended at midnight on June 7, 2027.”
But they had no idea that Cajeros had died in early March.
Late on Monday, UKAD released a further statement admitting their error, saying: “The UK Anti-Doping Agency (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 of the case concerning Mr Calleros, in accordance with UK Anti-Doping Rules.
“Unfortunately, UKAD had no information regarding Mr Cajeros' sad passing at the time of publishing and have now removed all details regarding this incident from their channels.”
Calleros reportedly died at his home in Juarez, Mexico, at the age of 34 from a suspected heart attack. OK Diario.
When they were unable to contact him, his relatives went to his home to search for him and discovered his body.
Calleros' death was confirmed by teammate David “El Kenyano” Galvan, who learned of his passing through Calleros' wife.
Calleros fought 49 bouts in his professional career, winning 37, losing 11 and drawing one.
He fought Japan's Ryuya Yamanaka for the WBO minimumweight title in March 2018 but was dragged to his corner in the eighth round.
Calleros fought current flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez in 2020 and faced Yafai last year.
It was his first fight in the UK and he subsequently tested positive for cocaine after the bout at the O2 Arena in London.
