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LOS ANGELES —Former welterweight champion Andre Berto has failed a doping
test, and the promoter of his rematch with Victor Ortiz says next months fight
is off. Jared Allen Jersey . Berto denied using
steroids Friday, but said he couldnt explain the voluntary test that showed
evidence of nandrolone usage. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said
Berto tested positive last weekend, and a secondary test also came back positive
Friday. Berto and Ortiz are scheduled to fight June 23 at Staples Center in Los
Angeles, but Berto will be replaced by a new opponent for Ortiz. “Obviously its
unfortunate, but at least it will allow us to save the event,” Schaefer said,
praising Berto adviser Al Haymon for promptly informing Golden Boy of the
positive test. “Victor will be fighting, and all the other fights on the card
will happen. We will be announcing within the next two days the replacement (for
Berto).” The fighters agreed to doping tests for their rematch through the
Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, a Las Vegas-based organization that tests
blood and urine for steroid use and other banned substances. Berto (28-1, 22
KOs) said he has only received a one-page summary of the laboratorys findings,
and he plans to ask for complete laboratory documentation of the testing. “At
the present time, I cannot explain the positive drug test, which was provided as
part of a voluntary anti-doping program in which I agreed to participate,” Berto
said in a statement. “I know that I have never used any steroids or other banned
substances, and I am investigating all possible causes of the positive test with
my attorney Howard Jacobs. I have never cheated, and all of my success has come
from hard work and dedication.” Berto held the WBC welterweight title for nearly
three years until Ortiz handed Berto his first career defeat in a thrilling
unanimous-decision victory in April 2011. Their rematch was among the most
anticipated fights of the summer after being postponed from Feb. 11 when Berto
tore a muscle in his left arm during training. Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs) used his
victory over Berto to land a big-money bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who
stopped him in the fourth round last September. Berto stopped Jan Zaveck to win
the IBF welterweight title, which he vacated to fight Ortiz. The test is another
setback for Golden Boy, which has lost two lucrative fights in the past two
months over positive tests by its fighters opponents. Two-belt 140-pound
champion Lamont Peterson was discovered to have high levels of synthetic
testosterone in March, scrapping his rematch with Golden Boys Amir Khan
scheduled for Saturday in Las Vegas. “Its a costly situation,” Schaefer said.
“But if, at the end of the day, the result is that we have a cleaner sport, its
a price Im willing to pay.” Victor Conte, the founder and president of BALCO
Laboratories, worked in Bertos camp for the fight. He took to Twitter on Friday
to defend the fighter, saying he believes the positive test resulted from
contamination. “Anybody who believes an elite athlete would use nandrolone with
an intent to cheat is uninformed,” Conte tweeted. “Clearly contamination in
Berto case … Because it stays in your system from (minimum) 6-18 months.”
Schaefer has criticized Petersons camp for delaying its revelation of the
fighters positive test, forcing Golden Boy to scrap its entire fight card at the
Mandalay Bay Events Center. Berto immediately made his results known to Golden
Boy, allowing the Staples Center card to go on with attractive undercard fights
including 140-pounder Lucas Matthysse against Humberto Soto, along with
heavyweight contender Chris Arreolas next fight. “What we need to do is we need
to give Mr. Berto an opportunity to explain himself on how it happened and why
it happened and what was going on,” Schaefer said. “What it shows is theres
clearly a need for more sophisticated testing in the sport of boxing, and we at
Golden Boy are happy to be shoulder by shoulder with Floyd Mayweather, who has
pushed for a clean sport.” Phil Loadholt Jersey . The Blue Jackets were
determined not to let that happen again. Clay Wilson had a goal and his first
assist in his second NHL game to lead Columbus to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago
Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Christian Ponder Jersey .ca MLB Power
Rankings. While the Giants sit second in their own division, they are getting
healthy and their lineup is much more potent now that third baseman
Pablo Sandoval has returned and first baseman Brandon Belt is making the most of
his opportunity to play every day. http://www.minnesotavikingsroom.com/josh-robinson-jerseys
. DeMarco comes to the Leos after an outstanding three-year, 35-game run at Old
Dominion University where he threw for 5,732 yards and 51 touchdowns on 471
completions. Percy Harvin Youth Jersey . Rousey submitted
Kaufman in just 54 seconds Saturday at “Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman” with
the same move shes used to finish every opponent in her career—an armbar—
to defend the Strikeforce womens bantamweight title. Christian Ponder Womens Jersey . Scott got
hurt during a 17-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday when the leg bent
awkwardly as he was tackled. He later rode a stationary bicycle on the sideline,
hoping to go back into the game.HOUSTON—Lucas Harrell hadnt finished cleaning
out his ears from a cream pie to the face that he received after pitching his
first complete game Wednesday night. But first he stopped for a fist bump with
left fielder J.D. Martinez and a hearty pat on catcher Chris Snyders shoulders
—a nod to the pair of Astros who made his big night possible. Harrell pitched
a six-hitter and Martinez threw out a runner at the plate in the ninth inning to
preserve Houstons 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. “You cant say more
about that throw in the last inning by J.D.,” Harrell said. “Its a big
situation, he throws it right on the money and Snyder makes a great scoop and
tag. Its one of those things where you just throw the ball, let them hit it and
let everybody else do (the work).” Matt Downs homered and Harrell finished it
off by striking out Nick Hundley with the bases loaded. “To see him pitch like
he has and be able to do what he did tonight in a 1-0 game and to be able to get
that complete game and throw like he did, thats pretty cool,” Houston manager
Brad Mills said. “Thats really cool.” San Diego manager Bud Black was impressed
with Harrells work. “It was another night of pressing them as best we could
without scoring,” Black said. “They executed a play in the ninth and beat us. We
didnt lose that game. The Astros beat us.” The drive by Downs was one of only
two hits by the Astros, who couldnt get anything else going against starter
Clayton Richard (5-8). “Baseball is a funny game,” Richard said. “Sometimes you
pitch well and dont get the results you want. But that just goes to show how
much of a team game this is. You have to have everything going to get wins.”
Harrell (7-6) allowed four hits through the first eight innings, but things got
dicey for the rookie after that. Chase Headley singled to start the ninth and
San Diego had runners at first and second with one out when Logan Forsythe
singled into shallow left. Pinch-runner Alexi Amarista headed for home, but
Martinez scooped up the ball and fired to Snyder in time. Martinez wasnt sure if
he had him when he launched the throw. “I knew the guy was fast,” he said.. Percy Harvin Jersey. “I was just lucky that
my outfield coach put me in good position, brought me in a little bit and gave
me a much better chance to get to the ball quicker and make a much better throw
on it.” Pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay walked to load the bases, but Harrell hung
tough and whiffed Hundley to end it. Harrell was a bit amped up when he faced
the last batter and pumped his fist when he saw Hundleys final swing. “It was
definitely a big thing for me,” he said. “That was my first big league complete
game and it was just a little adrenaline running through me.” Harrell struck out
seven and walked four. Previously, his longest outing was 7 1-3 innings. Richard
struck out five in seven innings, but couldnt get any run support to back up his
solid night on the mound. Martinez singled for Houstons first hit to open the
second inning. The homer by Downs started the third inning before Richard
retired the next 15 batters he faced. He was replaced by Dale Thayer for the
eighth inning and he picked up where Richard left off, setting down the next
three Astros to make it 18 in a row. Yonder Alonso, who returned to the starting
lineup after missing the last three games with a sore knee, singled with one out
in the second. But Houston turned a double play in that inning before Harrell
pitched a perfect third to face the minimum through the first three innings. He
got into a bit of a jam in the fourth after walking Everth Cabrera with one out
before Carlos Quentin drew a two-out walk. Alonso grounded out to end the
inning. The Padres also threatened in the fifth after a single by Forsythe
before Richard singled with two outs. Harrell escaped again with a groundout.
That was the start of Harrell retiring 10 of 11 batters. First baseman
Carlos Lee helped his cause when he dived to stop a grounder by pinch-hitter
Chris Denorfia with his body, and crawled to retrieve the dribbling ball as he
extended his leg on the base for the first out of the eighth. NOTES: Houston 2B
Jose Altuve was out of the lineup for the third straight game with a strained
right hamstring. ... The teams wrap up a four-game series Thursday when San
Diegos Andrew Cashner faces left-hander Dallas Keuchel. ’ ’ ’