Alycia Baumgardner refuses to stay ‘silent’ after failed drug test



“As a professional athlete, I and I alone am responsible for what I put in my body, and my body is a temple. I am also a proud role model for any young woman or girl who seeks to follow in my footsteps. I take those responsibilities very seriously – which is why I know that I did not and would never put these substances in my body.

“I have a lot more to say about my journey and why the very idea of me taking an illegal, banned, or even dangerous substance would never make sense. So I have no intention of sitting back in silence and letting this ‘play out’. I plan to keep you all updated every step of the way as I work to ensure my reputation as a clean athlete remains fully intact.”

Baumgardner beat Linardatou via unanimous decision on 15 July to retain her super-featherweight titles.

The news of her failed drug test follows the adverse finding that saw Dillian Whyte pulled from his fight with Anthony Joshua in early August.

Elsewhere, UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control have appealed a decision to lift Conor Benn’s ban, which followed a failed drug test last year.

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