During a televised interview at his home in Culiacan, former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1, 32KOs) explained the reason for his failed drug test. After suffering a twelve round decision loss to Sergio Martinez on September 15th in Las Vegas, Chavez tested positive for marijuana.
Chavez’s insomnia problems are well documented. The boxer explained that he went to a doctor and received a prescribed medicine which contained cannabis. Chavez has to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission and he does face a suspension.
“I’m not a drug addict, I have never smoked marijuana. For years I have had insomnia, so I went to the doctor and he prescribed some drops for me that contained cannabis. I stopped taking them before the fight with ‘Maravilla’ Martinez, and I didn’t think I was going to test positive,” Chavez stated on Mexican television.
“Now I hope the opinion of the Commission of Nevada [is positive]. I hope they hear me, that I never acted in bad faith, and I hope the punishment won’t be a heavy one. Let there be a rematch, and we will work with renewed vigor, and I’ll take whatever test they want.”
He was offended by a recent statement from the World Boxing Council, who directed him to enter a rehab center.
“I do not condone what the World Boxing Council said, about their desire to send me to rehab. That’s for drug addicts, and I’m not. The Council has not even seen me. How can they say that?”
Chavez makes no excuses about his poor training camp, agreeing with the recent statements of his trainer Freddie Roach.
“There are no excuses for my defeat against Martinez. I had problems with my nose. It was busted from an uppercut. From the eighth round I was swallowing blood as I continued fighting. In this round I knew I had lost the fight, but I always nourished the hope of winning, and I was about to knock him out [in the twelfth],” Chavez said.
“My preparation was not perfect. I’m happy with Freddie Roach. I’ve progressed with him, but for this match it did not work well. Roach told me one thing, and my father said another, and that I created confusion. This time the presence of my father was complicated. I want a rematch with Martinez, and if that happens there are going to be a lot of changes in my team, in my preparation. And it’s true, sometimes I trained at 2 in the morning, which is not normal. Things have hindered me because I have problems………..insomnia and nerves. Of course I want to continue with Freddie Roach, He is the best in the world,” Chavez said.
By Miguel Rivera
Source: worldboxingnews.net
