Alleged doping of Argentine boxer Soto in Panama by the WBA and the Panama Commission is a blow to boxing
By Gabriel F. Cordero
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Jun 2025
Early on Monday, May 19, the long-standing Panamanian boxing commission, chaired by Jaime Salas, announced through its press team that Argentine boxer Alfredo "Coki" Soto had tested positive for cannabis following his surprising and spectacular second-round TKO victory over undefeated Panamanian super prospect Jose "El Magnifico" Nuñez and declared a no contest in the fight for the WBA FEDELATIN lightweight title.
Videos shared by Soto's trainer, renowned Olympian and former Argentine world champion Pablo Chacon, at the time of the urine sample collection, reflected his own doubts and disagreement with the procedure.
Days later, the century-old WBA declared that it was maintaining the recognition of Argentine Soto as FEDELATIN champion and that there were anomalies in the tests obtained from Soto.
The strange thing about it all is that a "Gone with the Wind"-style silence has been maintained while a scandal erupted, including mockery of boxer Soto with direct references to marijuana use, even suggesting it could have been during his stay in the wealthy modern city of Panama.
WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, a Panamanian-Venezuelan, emphasized in his written statement a clear defense of boxer Soto, reiterating that there were abnormal situations during the sample collection process. Coincidentally, future WBA presidential candidate Alfredo Mendoza and Panamanian boxing star advisor Oliver Gomez were present at that mega-night of global boxing honoring Latin American boxing angel Don Sampson Lewcowickz, who helped build the "Land of Champions" Gymnasium, now Atheyna Bylon (Paris 24 Olympic Medalist), where the Soto-Nuñez fight was held.
The WBA insists that the promotion company must be involved in the sample collection process, while the Panama Boxing Commission, in a lengthy response letter led by its stubborn president, Jaime Salas, insists, based on local regulations, that it is the boxing commission's absolute responsibility to carry out this procedure at all events, including those where a title from any organization is being contested.
The Panama Boxing Commission is the only one in the world with high-ranking officials in the four main organizations, including vice presidents, world classifiers, and other members. There is no reference to a local commission with so many members worldwide, which makes it impossible to understand what happened between the WBA, with its close ties in Panama, and the Panama Boxing Commission. The WBA, which annually organizes a philanthropic worldwide caravan of events with its legacy of "Knockout to Drugs," because it so closely defended the Argentine "Cokl" Soto, and because the experienced Panamanian boxing commission so quickly publicized the alleged doping just hours after the fight. And how both have managed to simultaneously calm the events through extensive letters and, as the fans say, "without coming out and showing their faces."
Who really lost? The undefeated Panamanian super prospect "Magnifico" Nuñez, who was soundly defeated, or the Argentine Soto, who seemed superior in the fight and was suspected of doping? Or the much-battered boxing scene, which seems to be mocked by emails, advisors, public relations agents, letters, text messages, and indirect expressions after an alleged doping case that ultimately resulted in no winners, but rather another low blow to boxing. Perhaps they aren't interested, but next time, a minimum of respect for the boxing world wouldn't hurt.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gabriel F. Cordero.
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