Drug Testing Yet To Begin For Canelo-Mbilli Title Fight

Bout-specific drug testing for Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli has not yet started ahead of their October 31 WBC middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight title fight in Riyadh.

Adviser Richard Schaefer says Canelo has already submitted his whereabouts information and is ready to begin: "Canelo's ready, willing and able to test. My understanding is Sela's in touch with [VADA]," Schaefer

Mbilli remains enrolled in the WBC's Clean Boxing Program, which requires standard whereabouts reporting and random testing, though that's separate from the additional bout-specific testing typically arranged for a fight of this magnitude. With just over a month before the fight, the delay shortens the window for unannounced testing.

Canelo served a six-month suspension in 2018 after testing positive for clenbuterol, which he attributed to contaminated meat; Mbilli has no history of a positive test. Sela and Turki Alalshikh have yet to formally announce the card, though Schaefer maintains the fight remains on track: "Everybody is going to be drug-tested. Canelo is training hard and the fight is going to happen," Schaefer