UKAD have handed a former world champion a two year suspension after testing positive for multiple banned substances in June 2025.
Positive tests for banned substances casts a cloud of darkness over our wonderful sport time and time again.
Sometimes it seems fighters are not punished significantly enough.
The introduction of VADA testing over recent years, predominantly by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing has been a small step in the right direction in controlling a performance enhancing drugs (P.E.D) problem in boxing.
VADA test alongside UKAD (UK anti-doping) in Britain to test fighters throughout fight camp and fight week.
Former world champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr (41-6-1, 28ko’s) tested positive for the prohibited substances octodrine and its Metabolite, heptaminol, in addition to an AAF for oxilofrine.
This test took place on the day of a unanimous decision victory for Rodriguez Jr over Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai (9-1, 7ko’s).
The fight was for the interim WBC world flyweight title, and despite the failed tests, the outcome has stayed the same on BoxRec to this day.
During the fight Rodriguez Jr had a relentless work rate, dropping Yafai in the final round and winning a wide points victory.
Yafai is yet to return to the ring since that night.
UKAD have made an official statement today:
“UKAD notified Mr Rodriguez Jr of his adverse analytical findings and imposed a provisional suspension”.
“Having received no response to the notice, UKAD subsequently charged Mr Rodriguez Jr with both ADRV’S (Anti-Doping Rule Violations)”.
“UKAD did not assert that the ADRV’s were intentional and imposed a two-year period of ineligibility”.
“Mr Rodriguez Jr’s ban is deemed to have begun on 30 July 2025 (the date of the provisional suspension) and will expire at 11:59 on 29 July 2027.
Despite being under a provisional suspension with UKAD, this didn’t stop the Mexican from fighting last October in Guadelupe, Mexico.
As this chapter comes to an end, it will be interesting to see if Galal Yafai is granted an opportunity to become WBC world champion in the near future.
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