Julio Cesar Martinez suspended by Nevada Commission after positive test

Julio Cesar Martinez has been suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after a banned substance was discovered during testing related to his victory over Angelino Cordova on March 30, The Ring reported.

The tests were conducted by the NSAC, so all Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) chairmen are required to comply with the commission’s decision. In short, Martinez will not be allowed to fight in America until the NSAC allows him to do so. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24, The Ring was told.

It was reported that a sample collected “yielded evidence of S5 diuretics and other masking agents.”

Martinez expressed his intention to move down to junior bantamweight after defending his WBC flyweight title with a majority decision win over Cordova at the T-Mobile Arena show in Las Vegas.

Erick Garcia Benitez, another boxer at the PBC event that culminated in Sebastian Fundora’s surprise win over Tim Tszyu, also reportedly tested positive for S5 diuretics and lost to Justin Vitoria after four rounds.

During random testing as part of the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program in 2019, Martinez tested positive for clenbuterol, but the Mexican was cleared by the sanctioning body because the levels in his body could have been due to the consumption of contaminated meat.

If Martinez does not provide a satisfactory explanation for the results, he will likely face a ban and fine, and his win over Cordova will likely be converted to a no-show.