Jaime Munguía has doubled down on his claim that he is a clean fighter after VADA revealed traces of exogenous testosterone in an A-sample collected for his May 3 decision win over Bruno Surace in Riyadh. In a second, lengthier statement released on June 2, the former junior-middleweight titlist—now campaigning at super-middle—stressed that the result was “unexpected and deeply concerning,” noting he has passed more than 100 tests since turning pro and had returned negative results on every other sample taken during this camp.
The 28-year-old Mexican, who rebounded from last December’s knockout loss to Surace with the rematch victory that moved him to 45-2, 35 KOs, has requested that VADA open the B-sample. Historically such samples almost always confirm the original finding, but Munguía’s team says the result could stem from contamination and is “rigorously reviewing every product” the fighter ingested in camp.
Watch Munguia vs. Surace 2 highlights: Watch
Because the bout was staged under British Boxing Board of Control jurisdiction, Munguía must appear before the BBBoC once the B-sample is tested. Until then, he sits beneath a cloud that has hovered over Eddy Reynoso’s stable since Canelo Álvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) received a clenbuterol flag in 2018. Munguía’s camp was keen to distance Reynoso from any nutritional role, emphasizing that longtime strength coach Marco Antonio Pérez Espinoza—never previously linked to a violation—handles all supplements.
Munguía maintains he “did not knowingly or intentionally” take a banned substance and calls on fans to reserve judgment until the full data set has been disclosed. He has pledged full cooperation with anti-doping authorities, reiterating that his insistence on VADA testing throughout his career proves he values fighter safety and “the integrity of the sport.”
Should the B-sample confirm the positive, Munguía could face suspension, a nullification of the Surace win, and a derailment of his climb back toward a second crack at the elite of 168 lbs.
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