Yesterday afternoon (November 21) Jason Cunningham of Doncaster, a regular panelist for boxing newsHe was about to answer some of the latest questions submitted to this week’s issue of the magazine when suddenly he found himself unable to think of anything else but the current state of his career.
Quite unexpectedly, in the middle of the afternoon, Cunningham discovered, via a Twitter post, that the last man to fight and defeat him, South Africa’s Zolani Tete, was said to have failed in the battle. their post-fight performance-enhancing drug test on July 2. This news, reported yesterday by Daily dispatcha South African newspaper, has instantly changed not only Cunningham’s way of thinking but potentially also the lens through which he views his own career and year-to-date.
After all, if it is confirmed now that Tete, 30-4 (23), did something illegal before their July 2 game, it is more likely that he will receive a lengthy ban. term and Cunningham’s fourth inning stop will be changed to No Competition. Cunningham, 31-7 (7), told us when the news broke yesterday: “My mind was blown by what I had just discovered. “I’ll be back to your (council) questions soon.”
Of course, Cunningham must now ask much more pressing questions, with answers demanded from others, not him. Indeed, he says he will be contacting the British Boxing Control Board today (November 22) to seek these answers.
Zolani Tete in action (James Chance/Getty Images)
All we know so far, about the process, is that the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) forwarded its initial findings to the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sports, which subsequently transferred its findings. Notify Boxing SA. This was confirmed on Sunday by Acting BSA CEO Nsikayezwe Sithole, who said Daily dispatch“We are working with Tete’s team and they advised us that they would challenge the finding.”
The performance enhancing potion that Tete failed his test was not determined by Daily dispatch, but Tete’s manager, Mla Tengimfene, revealed his boxer had arranged to test his “B” form on Tuesday. “We believe this is a big mistake,” said Tengimfene. “Zolani knew nothing about this and in all the years I was with him he never failed a dope test. What confuses me is that he’s going to do that at the end of his career.”
If Tete’s “B” sample tests positive for the same substance, it is likely that the British Boxing Board of Control will suspend the 34-year-old former WBO bantamweight champion for up to four years, although that is rare. Watch boxers take full punishment in situations like these. In the meantime, Cunningham, a man whose career was derailed by Tete in July, could do nothing but wait to find out if he was unfairly beaten that night in London and whether his career has been derailed by illegal means.
