Via Boxingscene.com

By Mark Vester

Undefeated junior middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. met with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday to give his side of the events in relation to testing positive for a diuretic in the aftermath of a decision win over Troy Rowland on November 14. Chavez Jr. was sick in the weeks leading up to the fight and had to take a some time off from training. Chavez was hospitalized for twelve hours during the time he was sick and the doctors pumped his body with fluids.

Because some much fluid was pumped into his body, he was scared of not being able to make weight. He took the diuretic, which causes an individual to urinate more often, for the sole purpose of losing weight. The drug does not affect a fighter's ability to perform in the ring.

Chavez did not try to lie to the NSAC. He was honest and told them he was taking the drug because he was struggling to lose weight after being ill. He took the drug the day before the weigh-in and during his hospital stay. He was unaware the drug was illegal in the state of Nevada.

The NSAC believed him and handed a seven month suspension. They allowed the suspension period to begin from last November, when Chavez failed the drug test and had to sit back until a hearing date with the NSAC. Chavez was fined $10,000 dollars and his win was changed to a no-decision. The suspension runs out in June. Chavez's co-promoter Fernando Beltran says the fighter is likely going to return in June and the potential opponent could be John Duddy.

"I did everything the doctor told me to do," Chavez said. "I had complete trust in my doctor and in what he was giving me. I would take a lot of stuff from him without asking because I had 100 percent trust in him."

"I would like to say that I didn't want to hurt anybody," Chavez told the commission. "Second, it was very embarrassing to me when my test came back positive. I have a clean image, and I also have a family name with a clean image in the sport.

"I would never try to take advantage of the participant in front of me. Historically, I've never done anything wrong, but of course I understand the doubt in me because I committed these mistakes."

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com