Just as the doping controversy surrounding Conor Benn seemed to die down, another fighter has ‘popped’ for a positive test.
This time it is South-African southpaw, Zolani Tete (30-4), who had previously held the IBF super-flyweight and WBO bantamweight world titles.
More recently, Tete dominated super-bantamweight Jason Cunningham, winning by fourth round knockout.
Although, according to Boxing Scene, that result may be overturned to and ruled a no-contest if Tete is found guilty, having tested positive around the time of this fight.
The 34-year-old outpointed the previously undefeated Japanese 115lber, Teiru Kinoshita, to win the world title and then defended the belt against Liverpool’s Paul Butler before moving up to the bantamweight division.
At 118lb, Tete became champion in style, blitzing through Siboniso Gonya in just one round of their title fight and eventually lost the WBO title to John Riel Casimero after a 2-year reign.
Since then, Tete has set his eyes on the super-bantamweight division and revitalised his career with a brutal win over Cunningham, however the threat of a four-year ban from could bring his promising title charge to a rather abrupt end.
Eight of Tete’s last twelve fights have come in the UK. His manager, Mla Tengimfene told The Daily Dispatch that he is confident that this is a mistake as Tete and his team await the result of the B-sample.
“We are confident that this is one big mistake. Zolani has no knowledge of this and in all the years I have been with him he has never failed a dope test. It baffles me that he would do it now at the tail end of his career,”
Meanwhile, a no-contest could be a huge boost for former European champion Cunningham, who told Doncaster Free Press that he has ‘unfinished business’ in the ring.
Cunningham has just signed his first fighter, Ellie Hellewell, as he moves into a managerial career, but may feel the urge to step back in the ring if his most recent defeat is deemed to have been foul play.
The whole escapade throws up so extremely important question – the most important of which being why wasn’t Cunningham notified? Trainer and manager, Stefy Bull, confirmed that they knew nothing of the failed test.