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Steve KimESPN
Alejandra Jimenez, who won the WBC and WBO super middleweight titles by defeating Franchon Crews-Dezurn on Jan. 11, tested positive for a banned substance, the WBC announced Friday.
The WBC said an “A” Sample from a drug test administered by VADA (Volunteer Anti-Doping Association) on Jan. 10 tested positive. Under the WBC’s protocol, Jimenez may be on hand to witness the opening of the “B” Sample, or send a representative to do so, and will then be accorded due process the WBC Clean Boxing Protocol provides.
Jimenez’s bout with Crews-Dezurn, at the Alamodome, was a back-and-forth affair that saw Jimenez winning the titles by split decision, with the judges scoring it 97-93, 98-92 and 93-97.
Oscar De La Hoya, the chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which staged the fight, called the failed drug test “extremely unfortunate” and said his focus will be on having Crews-Dezurn reinstated as champion.
“As Franchon’s promoter, we are incredibly disappointed for her as she worked incredibly hard to defend her titles,” De La Hoya said. “However, our job is to ensure the safety of our fighters both inside and outside of the ring. Thus, we have always insisted and supported testing through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) for all of our world championship fights. Jimenez’s fight against Franchon Crews-Dezurn is no exception.
“Now our job is to find justice for Franchon by working closely with the WBC and the WBO in order to reinstate her as a world champion.”
In the wake of her loss, Crews-Dezurn and her trainer, Barry Hunter, stated their desire to win back her titles in a rematch.
“I would still like to fight her again,” Hunter told ESPN. “I definitely think Franchon was the better fighter, I thought Jimenez’s advantage was that she was in better shape. Now with this coming out, and if this stands to be true, that’s a whole ‘nother ballgame.”