UKAD backdated the ban to March 7, 2024. It'll end on March 6, 2026. The Mexican fighter, now 27, failed the drug test on May 28, 2023, at Manchester Arena.
Lara said the positive result came from a shoulder injection he got on May 12, 2023. He claimed the injection contained dexamethasone. But UKAD didn't buy it. They said his explanation didn't account for the betamethasone in his system.
UKAD gave Lara a chance to come up with another explanation. He couldn't. So they moved forward with the case.
The anti-doping body looked at the case closely. They followed the rules set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and their own policies on glucocorticoids. They even got an independent scientific expert to weigh in. The expert said a dexamethasone injection wouldn't explain the presence of betamethasone.
UKAD then told Lara he might have broken anti-doping rules. They suspended him right away for having and using a banned substance. In the end, they charged him with both violations.
Lara's had a rough time lately. Before this ban, he lost his World Boxing Association (WBA) title. He couldn't make the 126-pound featherweight limit for his rematch with Wood.
Despite the ban starting in March 2024, Lara's been active in the ring. He fought to a draw with Daniel Lugo in Mexico in February 2024. He won his next two fights by stoppage, beating Pedro Alejandro Delgado in August 2024 and Edwing Davila in January 2025.
This ban puts a big dent in Lara's career. He'll be out of action in major boxing markets for two years. It's a tough blow for a fighter who was on top of the world not too long ago.