Boxing, a sport already rich with drama and unexpected turns, has recently seen its integrity tested outside the ring. A saga involving a banned substance, a surprising ruling, and a prominent promoter`s outrage has put the spotlight squarely on anti-doping protocols and the sport`s governing bodies.
The Bout, The Bomb, and The Blame Game
The story begins in Birmingham, where Mexico`s Francisco Rodriguez Jr. faced off against Britain’s Galal Yafai. In a fiercely contested bout on June 21, Rodriguez not only defeated Yafai, stripping him of his WBC Interim flyweight title and his unbeaten record, but also dropped him in the final round to secure a dominant points victory.
However, the narrative took an immediate left hook less than three weeks later. The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom Boxing, the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the British Boxing Board of Control that Rodriguez had returned an adverse analytical finding from a post-fight drug test. The substance in question: heptaminol, a cardiac stimulant.
“Accidental” Ingestion? A Ruling That Raises Eyebrows
Two days ago, the WBC delivered its verdict, one that has since sent ripples of disbelief through the boxing community. Despite the positive test for a banned substance, the WBC declared Rodriguez`s ingestion of heptaminol to be “accidental, unintentional, unknowing, and not directed to enhance his performance.”
The resolution: a 12-month probation for Rodriguez, the reinstatement of Yafai as WBC Interim flyweight champion, and the original June 21 bout declared a no-contest. Furthermore, in a twist that many find difficult to comprehend, the governing body ordered a rematch between the two fighters.
Hearn Unleashes: “It`s So Bizarre”
Enter Eddie Hearn, the ever-vocal promoter, whose reaction to the WBC`s ruling was anything but muted. Speaking in Belfast, Hearn minced no words, labeling the decision “bizarre.” And then came the bombshell that escalated the controversy:
“To make it even worse, I found out last night that he [Rodriguez] also failed a drugs test in his last fight.”
This wasn`t a one-off. Rodriguez, it turns out, had previously failed a drug test following his December 2024 fight in San Antonio, Texas, against Josue Jesus Morales. Initially a unanimous decision victory for Rodriguez, that result was overturned to a No Contest by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on June 1—mere weeks before his fight with Yafai. Hearn revealed he spoke directly with the Texas Commission to confirm this, and later, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who reportedly claimed ignorance of the prior failure.
For Hearn, the implications were clear and damning. “He’s failed back-to-back drug tests on the night, and he’s gone 12 rounds with Galal in a fight that physically damaged Galal. To rule in two weeks that it was accidental and say, ‘He can just come back and have a rematch’—it’s so bizarre.”
The Credibility Conundrum: What Price for Clean Sport?
While Hearn acknowledged the importance of due process for fighters, he vehemently questioned the speed and nature of the WBC`s ruling. “I don’t believe that can happen without a B-sample in a two-week time period. To say, ‘Yeah, no problem, let’s just run it back’—it doesn’t sit right.”
Heptaminol, classified as a cardiac stimulant, is not a substance accidentally found in a typical diet. Its presence, especially on consecutive occasions, raises serious questions about the “accidental” defense and the thoroughness of the investigation. One might wonder if the definition of “accidental” is becoming increasingly elastic in the face of competitive pressures.
The physical and psychological toll on Galal Yafai cannot be overstated. He trained for a legitimate challenge, fought valiantly, and suffered his first professional defeat, only for it to be retrospectively nullified by a drug test failure. To then be ordered into a rematch with a fighter who has now failed two consecutive tests for performance-enhancing substances seems, at best, a peculiar interpretation of justice.
Looking Ahead: A Demand for Accountability
Hearn believes the new revelation of Rodriguez`s prior drug test failure should entirely shift the landscape. “I believe Galal Yafai should now be installed as the mandatory challenger,” he asserted, rather than being subjected to another bout with a fighter under such a cloud. This would put Yafai in line to face the winner of the upcoming WBC and WBA world flyweight title defense between Kenshiro Teraji and Ricardo Sandoval in Yokohama, Japan.
This controversy underscores a critical ongoing challenge for professional boxing: upholding the integrity of the sport through robust, transparent, and consistently applied anti-doping policies. When rulings appear to contradict common sense or when previous infractions are seemingly overlooked, it erodes trust not only among promoters and fighters but also among the fans who invest their passion and money into the sport. The boxing world now watches to see if this “bizarre” situation will lead to greater scrutiny and, hopefully, more stringent enforcement for a truly clean sport.
