Recently Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. tested positive for marijuana after his post WBC middleweight title fight with Sergio Martinez. This was Chavez Jr’s second positive test. He previously was found to have used a banned diet supplement to help shed weight prior to a 2009 fight. Bob Arum is the CEO of the boxing promotion company that manages Chavez Jr. He was very vocal in standing behind his fighter over the almost certain penalties laid down by the Nevada State Commission.
Arum said he is braced to argue for the Nevada commission to treat his fighter with leniency because he doesn’t view marijuana as a performance-enhancing drug. “You certainly worry about the repercussions, but we have a great commission in Nevada that understands what the social issues are,” Arum said. “As far as I’m concerned, marijuana should be legal and you can quote me on that.” Arum also said his fighter used cannabis three to four weeks prior to the start of training camp to help with insomnia.
Why does the Nevada commission care to make it a banned substance if they allege its not performance enhancing? Can we agree cannabis use is not as harmful as people make it out to be? Chavez Jr. ended up losing the title to Sergio Martinez. He could be banned for at least 7 months from competition depending on the outcome of the hearing.