Oscar Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) bout with Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs), scheduled for September 10 in Tucson, Arizona, will take place despite the Mexican testing positive for doping by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA). On Aug. 13, Valdez' sample was found to contain phentermine, a stimulant psychoactive substance.
The local sports commission cleared the fight, but provided no explanation to the media as to why the decision was made, including the arguments of Valdez' team.
On August 30, Valdez had another test, which came back negative. The Mexican's team initially explained that the substance was ingested accidentally due to a "ordinary herbal tea".
The WBC super featherweight title, held by the Mexican, will be at stake in the Valdez - Conceicao encounter. For Conceicao, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion, this will be his first attempt to win the professional title.
Phentermine is a supplement used for weight loss and is only available in the United States by prescription. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) only during competition, starting at 12:00 p.m. on fight day. VADA makes no distinction between in-competition and out-of-competition, and all substances listed by the agency are considered banned at all times. Most commissions adhere to the WADA ruling, although the WBC pure boxing program adheres to the VADA rules. That said, the VADA has no authority to decide whether or not to cancel bouts, it simply reports the results.
