Oh, here we go once more. It seems like every week there’s news about another sports figure failing a drug test, even if it doesn’t literally happen that often. Still, it feels frequent enough. This week, it’s Mexican fighter and former WBA featherweight champion Mauricio Lara who’s at the center of the latest scandal. According to several reports, Lara tested positive for betamethasone, a glucocorticoid banned during competitions, as confirmed by a UKAD statement.
Reports indicate Lara’s test failure occurred before his May 2023 rematch with Leigh Wood. Notably, Lara missed the 126-pound weight limit by a significant margin, weighing in at 129.8 pounds, and consequently lost his WBA title. Some argue Lara shouldn’t have been permitted to fight. Despite this, Wood, who had been knocked out by Lara three months earlier, secured a decisive victory in their rematch. Lara had received a dexamethasone injection for a sparring-related shoulder injury before this fight, which has now come under scrutiny.
As a result of his actions, Lara faces a suspension effective from March 7, 2024, until March 6, 2026.
Had Lara clinched the victory against Wood, there would undoubtedly have been a surge of outrage and calls to overturn the result to a no contest. However, regardless of the outcome, the core issue remains that Lara violated the rules.
Since losing to Wood, Lara has fought three more times in Mexico, logging two wins and a draw. Since professional boxing in Mexico doesn’t adhere to World Anti-Doping Code regulations, UKAD states that Lara hasn’t technically breached the terms of his provisional suspension.
At 27, with a record of 28 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, Lara was once hailed as a dynamic and formidable presence in the lower weight classes. Sadly, his reputation is now marred by this incident.
