According to a report from The Ring, Julio Cesar Martinez has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after testing positive for a banned substance following his win over Angelino Cordoba on March 30.
Because the test was conducted by the NSAC, all governing bodies under the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) are bound by the commission's decision, meaning Martinez cannot fight in the United States until he receives clearance from the NSAC. Ring reportedly has a tentative hearing scheduled for June 24.
It was reported that samples taken “contained traces of S5 diuretics and other masking agents.”
Martinez announced his intention to move up to junior bantamweight after defending his WBC flyweight title against Cordoba with a majority decision victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Another boxer at the PBC event, which saw Sebastian Fandora score an upset win over Tim Chu, Eric Garcia Benitez, also reportedly tested positive for the S5 diuretic after losing a four-round decision to Justin Vitoria.
Martinez tested positive for clenbuterol in a random test as part of the WBC's Clean Boxing Programme in 2019, but the WBC exonerated the Mexican, saying the levels in his system could have come from consuming contaminated meat.
If Martinez is unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the findings of the investigation, he is likely to be suspended and fined and his win over Cordoba will be declared a no contest.
