NAC votes to suspend Chavez pending hearing
To no one's surprise, the Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to temporarily suspend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. pending a disciplinary hearing following the fighter's postfight positive test for marijuana.
Chavez, who lost a 12-round unanimous decision and his WBC welterweight title Sept. 15 to Sergio Martinez at the Thomas & Mack Center, will have to appear before the five-member commission to explain how marijuana metabolites found their way into his system. Marijuana is on the NAC's banned substance list.
Executive director Keith Kizer said the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission is Oct. 29, though it could be moved to Oct. 30. That would be Chavez's first opportunity to address the complaint made against him by deputy attorney general Chris Eccles.
"We're ready to go today," Kizer said following Tuesday's meeting. "But we'll see what Mr. Chavez's attorneys want to do."
Kizer said Las Vegas attorney Don Campbell is representing Chavez.
This will be Chavez's second time before the commission regarding a failed drug test. In 2009, he tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic that is banned for use by the NAC, following his win over Troy Rowland. He was fined $10,000, suspended for seven months and had his win changed to a "no contest."
Kizer said as a repeat offender, Chavez could face sterner disciplinary measures. He could be suspended for a year and fined up to 100 percent of his purse. Chavez was paid $3 million for his fight against Martinez.
"His prior case is part of the complaint," Kizer said. "How heavily that is weighed by the commissioners, I couldn't say."
In addition, the WBC suspended Chavez indefinitely following confirmation of the positive drug test by the NAC and fined him $20,000.
Chavez said following the WBC's action that he was sorry over the incident.
"I want to apologize to all the people who felt offended by my actions," he said in a statement. "I made them, and only I should face the consequences. I will do my very best to change."
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
