Julio Cesar Martinez Receives Nine-Month Ban For Failed Drug Tests
Former WBC flyweight world champion Julio Cesar Martinez has received a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after testing positive for three banned substances.
According to reports from ESPN and The Ring Magazine, the Mexican failed three drug tests ahead of his March 30 title defense against Angelino Cordova at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which he won by majority decision.
It has been reported that Martinez tested positive for S5 diuretics and other masking agents – substances consumed to potentially hide performance-enhancing drugs. The 29-year-old has avoided a hearing after reaching an adjudication agreement with NSAC.
The nine-month ban has been implemented retroactively, dating back to the fight on March 30, meaning Martinez will be cleared to return on December 29, assuming he completes a drug-testing program.
Martinez vacated his WBC title in May to move up to super-flyweight, leading to heightened excitement that he could secure a fight with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. That will have to wait for now.
Martinez Cleared To Return In December
In addition to being enrolled in the drug-testing program, Martinez was fined 15 percent of his fight purse – equating to around $75,000 – and was ordered to pay $157.04 in prosecution fees. The result of the bout has also been changed to a no-contest.
According to the documents obtained by ESPN and The Ring Magazine, Martinez’s urine sample that was taken pre-fight was returned positive for diuretics and masking agents. Commonly used to assist in weight cutting, the substances can also increase urine volume and dilute the presence of any performance-enhancing drugs in tests.
It is not the first time Martinez has failed a drug test. He tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in 2019 during random drug testing as part of the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program. However, he avoided punishment after the WBC concluded that the result was a consequence of contaminated meat in Mexico.
Martinez, who reigned as the WBC’s flyweight champion for five years having won the vacant title in December 2019, has previously courted controversy in the ring, too.
Second Failed Test For ‘El Rey’
In August 2019, ‘El Ray’ contested his first world title fight against then-champion Charlie Edwards and proceeded to batter the British fighter for the first three rounds. His dominance looked to have been rewarded when he secured a third-round knockout, but he landed an illegal body shot when Edwards was already down on one knee.
Having initially been named the winner, the WBC referred to video replay and immediately overturned the result, changing it to a no contest. It was the first of three no contests of Martinez’s career, the other occurring after an accidental clash of heads with McWilliams Arroyo in 2021.
Martinez had emerged as one of the finest fighters in the flyweight division in recent years. Remarkably, he lost his first two professional bouts but since then his only defeat came against the great Roman Gonzalez. Even then, his professionalism was called into question after coming into the fight over the weight limit.
Martinez’s ban is the second high-profile doping-related punishment this month after Ryan Garcia was handed a one-year suspension for his failed drug tests ahead of his bout with Devin Haney in April.