Boxing
Alycia Baumgardner tested positive ahead of July fight but sends strong message to female fighters
Baumgardner confidently denies failing drug test, asserting that she has a legacy to uphold to young women who follow in her footsteps.
The undefeated junior lightweight champion, Alycia Baumgardner, tested positive for two prohibited substances during a voluntary anti-doping test before her July 15 bout against Christina Linardatou, as confirmed by her promoter, Matchroom Boxing, on Wednesday.
Following her triumph over former champion Linardatou through a unanimous decision in her inaugural defense of the undisputed title, Baumgardner issued a statement disclosing that her pre-fight “A” sample, taken on July 12, showed traces of mesterolone and methenolone acetate metabolites. However, her post-fight test on July 15 and a subsequent test on July 16 yielded negative results, “which makes the July 12th result essentially impossible.”
“Two substances I’ve never heard of or used in any way,” Baumgardner said on social media.
Baumgardner: “I know me, and stand ten toes down”
“To be abundantly clear, I know that I never have, never would, and never will take this or any other drug. Not only would doing so be unethical, but it would also be completely contrary to how I’ve trained my entire career,” wrote Baumgardner.
The 29-year-old added, “As a professional athlete, I and I alone am responsible for what I put in my body, and my body is a temple.”
In addition to Baumgardner’s confidence and calm exposure throughout the failed test result, the 29-year-old sent a strong message to other female athletes.
“I am also a proud role model for any young woman or girl who seeks to follow in my footsteps. I take those responsibilities very seriously, which is why I know that I did not and would never put these substances in my body.”
Baumgardner has no intention of letting this ‘play out’
“I have a lot more to say about my journey and why the very idea of me taking an illegal, banned, or even dangerous substance would never make sense. So I have no intention of sitting back in silence and letting this ‘play out.’ I plan to keel you all updated every step of the way as I work to ensure my reputation as a clean athlete remains fully intact.”