After more than a year of uncertainty, the doping case of former two-time world champion Zolani Tete finally took shape when his hearing started before the United King Anti-Doping (UKAID) on Monday.
The two-day inquest stems from Tete’s failed dope test following his fourth-round knockout victory over Jason Cunningham for a slew of junior-featherweight titles at Wembley Arena in London on July 2 2022.
Traces of stanozolol, a muscle-cutting agent often used by bodybuilders, were found in Tete’s urine sample taken after the fight.
However, the Mdantsane boxer pleaded ignorance of the substance and demanded the B sample be tested which also came back positive.
Tete was slapped with an indefinite suspension by Boxing SA after the body was made aware of the transgression by the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids).
But Tete’s English promoter Frank Warren, who organised the fight, asked for the case to be handled by UKAID as it took place under its jurisdiction.
With the UK anti-doping structure having provisions to let athletes prove their innocence, Tete embarked on a mission to investigate how the substance ended up in his system.
He went as far as enlisting the services of a French laboratory.
The boxer’s manager Mla Tengimfene confirmed the camp had gathered enough evidence to prove that Tete did not willingly ingest the substance.
“There are several issues that have come up, but for now we cannot say anything as we are still busy with the hearing,” he said.
Since UKAID took over the case, Tete’s suspension by BSA became provisional, though it is not clear if he would be allowed to participate in a bout in the country.
Part of his hearings which are being conducted virtually include his team of lawyers mitigating the case as the 35-year-old southpaw insisted he never took the substance.
Tete has never failed a dope test in his 34 bouts which should also count in his favour.
His dope test failure is just one of the numerous cases in the boxing fraternity, raising questions on the environment boxers are exposed to with doping institutions under pressure to relax some of their stringent measures of finding an athlete guilty, without affording them an opportunity to explain themselves.
UKAID is currently embroiled in another doping saga involving Conor Benn, the son of former world champion Nigel Benn, after he failed a drug test ahead of his clash against Chris Eubank Jnr, leading to the bout being cancelled.
The British anti-doping structure is yet to make a pronouncement on the matter, with Benn’s promoter Matchroom Boxing pushing for his fighter to be allowed to return to the ring.
Tete faces a ban of up to four-years if he is found guilty and his lawyers fail to mitigate his case. He has already been inactive for over a year.
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