LOS ANGELES -- Three-time champion James Toney tested
positive for steroids and could face a one-year suspension from
boxing.
Armando Garcia, the California State Athletic Commission's
executive officer, said Toney and Danny Batchelder, his opponent in
a heavyweight bout May 24 in San Jose, tested positive for two
types of steroids. They were suspended indefinitely.
"They have a right to appeal," Garcia said Wednesday. "My
recommendation is suspension until the end of the licensing year
and a $2,500 fine for both. We will give them the 30 days to
appeal. If they don't, that's what the suspension will be."
Toney tested positive for boldenone and stanazolol, and
Batchelder tested positive for stanazolol and oxandolone, Garcia
said. If they don't appeal, the boxers would be suspended one year
from the date of their fight.
Toney won a split decision over Batchelder, an outcome that
won't be changed, Garcia said. Toney has a 70-6-3 record with 43
knockouts and Batchelder is 25-5-1 with 12 knockouts.
The 38-year-old Toney is a former IBF middleweight,
super-middleweight and cruiserweight champion. He tested positive
for nandrolone two years ago, and it cost him a victory over WBC
heavyweight champion John Ruiz. That bout was ruled a no-contest.