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Leigh Wood opponent and former world champion Mauricio Lara slapped with two-year boxing ban after failing drugs test


BOXER Mauricio Lara has been handed a two-year ban after failing a drugs test before his loss to Leigh Wood.

Lara brutally knocked out Wood in February 2023 and they rematched just three months later.

Mauricio Lara has been handed a two-year ban after failing a drugs testCredit: Getty

But the Mexican was this time beaten on points – losing his WBA featherweight title.

Lara has fought just once more since – drawing to Daniel Lugo in Mexico in February of last year.

But it has now emerged that Lara failed a UK Anti-Doping test before his rematch loss to Wood – landing himself a two-year ban.

His suspension is backdated to the start date of his provisional suspension and so will expire on March 6th, 2026.

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UKAD posted: “Mexican professional boxer Mauricio Lara has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for two years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance.”

Lara tested positive for betamethasone – known to treat inflammation and pain.

The 27-year-old claimed the positive test was caused by an injection into his shoulder on 12 May in the build-up to the Wood fight.

But Ukad said that did not explain how betamethasone entered his system.

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Lara shot to notoriety overnight when he knocked out Josh Warrington in 2021.

There rematch then ended in a no-contest due to a cut in round two to Lara’s eye.

Lara beat Wood, 36, for the WBA title but lost it in the immediate rematch.

Lara knocked Wood out in their first fightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Lara lost the rematch on pointsCredit: Reuters


Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk


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