Saturday, October 05, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Nevada Athletic Commission on Friday filed a formal complaint against former super welterweight champion Fernando Vargas, alleging he tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid after a Sept. 14 loss to Oscar De La Hoya at Mandalay Bay.

According to the complaint, Vargas has 20 days to respond in writing to the findings of Quest Diagnostics of San Diego that he had stanozolol metabolite in his urine. The complaint advises Vargas he is subject to a fine, license suspension or revocation, and other punishment the commission deems appropriate if he is found guilty of the charges.

Commissioner Dr. Tony Alamo Jr. said the commission must be vigilant about anabolic steroids because of the health risks they pose to athletes and the unfair competitive advantage they could give to a fighter.

"We match fighters of similar weights, skills and experience," Alamo said. "That is done to ensure safety and a competitive match. But if one of the combatants is taking (an anabolic steroid), it would cause an imbalance. Stanozolol is a performance-enhancing drug."

Vargas, in a statement to commission executive director Marc Ratner, has denied knowingly taking steroids.

His manager, Rolando Arellano, said Friday he has begun an investigation into the supplements Vargas was given. Arellano said there is some evidence that a legal nutritional supplement used by Olympic athletes can show a false positive for stanozolol.

He said Vargas has hired experts to investigate what happens when the supplements he was taking were broken down in his body.

"We're going to test every supplement Fernando put into his body during that training camp," Arellano said. "We have a lot of information we still need to get, so it would be premature of me to make any kind of a definitive comment as to what we're going to do. But we have to see what happens with these supplements when we have them tested."

Once Vargas responds to the complaint, he will be invited to attend a hearing. But the commission advised Vargas in its complaint it has the right to proceed with a disciplinary hearing even if Vargas chooses not to attend.

Commission chairman Luther Mack sent a letter dated July 1 to Vargas and De La Hoya, and their representatives, advising them the commission would test for steroids.