Undisputed champion Baumgardner tests positive for steroid

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Alycia Baumgardner, the undisputed women’s junior lightweight world champion, has tested positive for the banned steroid mesterolone in conjunction with a one-sided unanimous decision over Christina Linardatou on July 15, according to four sources with knowledge of the test results and the paperwork obtained by Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday.

Baumgardner avenged her only career defeat in a rematch with Linardatou in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN, but in a random urine test conducted on July 12 by Drug Free Sport, a testing company Matchroom Boxing sometimes uses for its events, the sample contained mesterolone.

According to the Drug Free Sport report, the SMRTL lab in South Jordan, Utah, received the sample on July 21 and the results were returned on Aug. 10.

Mesterolone, commonly known by the brand name Proviron, is an anabolic steroid typically taken orally and is used to treat low testosterone levels and male infertility.

After Fight Freaks Unite broke the news of the positive test, Matchroom Boxing acknowledged it in a statement.

“Matchroom can today confirm that Alycia Baumgardner returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a random anti-doping protocol instituted voluntarily for her bout with Christina Linardatou in Detroit on 15 July,” the statement said. “Matchroom was first informed of this result on 12 August. The applicable regulatory authorities are also aware and we defer to such bodies for further action and guidance as a full investigation is conducted.

“Matchroom is committed to promoting a clean and fair sport for all athletes, and will assist Alycia and her team during this time, affording her the appropriate due process. As we wait to receive more information, Matchroom will not be making any further comment.”

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Baumgardner faced former WBO junior welterweight titlist Linardatou, who won their first meeting by eight-round decision in 2018, in a Detroit homecoming fight at The Masonic Temple and they put on a spirited show.
With Detroit legend Thomas Hearns and Michigan’s own Claressa Shields, the women’s pound-for-pound No. 1 and undisputed middleweight champion, watching from ringside, Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs), 29, won 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 in her fourth overall 130-pound title defense and first of the undisputed crown.

Baumgardner, who is trained by former junior middleweight titleholder and Detroit native Tony Harrison, became the undisputed women’s 130-pound champion on Feb. 4 in New York, where she scored a pair of third-round knockdowns against Elhem Mekhaled and cruised to a one-sided decision to retain the WBC, WBO and IBF titles while also winning the vacant WBA belt to set the stage for the homecoming bout.

In her previous fight, Baumgardner won a narrow split decision against Mikaela Mayer to retain the WBC title and take the IBF and WBO belts from Mayer in a high-profile fight in London.

After the victory against Linardatou, Baumgardner and her promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, talked up pursuing a fight with undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano and Baumgardner also said she hoped to eventually face the winner of the rematch between undisputed junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron and undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor, who are both promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

Team Baumgardner declined to comment.

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Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing

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