Confusion continues to surround Zolani Tete’s failed doping test, which reportedly came not long after he knocked out Doncaster’s Jason Cunningham in July of this year.
Whilst the former two-weight world champion’s team remain adamant that he is innocent, Tete’s positive test has thrown up plenty of questions, some posed by Cunningham himself.
One important matter to clear up is why the result – which was positive for anabolic steroid, Stanozolol – wasn’t reported sooner.
The super bantamweight contest took place in Wembley Arena, London, promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry. A statement from the company, as obtained by Boxing Scene, read as follows:
“Queensberry Promotions were first informed by BoxingScene.com on Monday (21st November 2022) that former world champion Zolani Tete allegedly returned an adverse analytical finding following a UKAD test that took place, five months ago, after his fight with Jason Cunningham on 2nd July 2022.”
“At this time Queensberry, who promoted the show, has not been formally notified of any issue by UKAD nor indeed by the British Boxing Board of Control and therefore, without any substantiated information are not able to comment further.”
“At this time, without such information, or as to what substance has been identified, we are not qualified to make further comment.”
“Tete’s management refute the claim and will request that the B Sample is analyzed immediately and will co-operate with any due process.”
Cunningham’s trainer, Stefy Bull, told Boxing King Media that the fighters were only tested after the bout and not prior.
Since the knockout, Cunningham hasn’t returned to the ring. Before coming up against Tete, he was on a run of seven straight wins. Whilst he’s said that his fighting career is not over, he’s already moved to the management side of things.
More news is expected as to when Tete’s B sample will be tested, and, should it hold the same result, the South African fighter is facing a ban of up to four years.