OMAR NINO FAILS DRUG TEST, TO BE STRIPPED OF TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 30 Nov 2006
WBC light flyweight champion Omar Nino has failed his post fight drug test following his controversial draw against former champion Brian Viloria in their rematch on the undercard of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao?s demolition of Erik "El Terrible" Morales at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas last November 18.
Mark Vester of the widely read boxingscene.com reported that the Mexican who first won the title in a stunning upset over Viloria and then retained it via a draw tested positive for methamphetamines and is almost certain to be stripped of his
title and suspended by the World Boxing Council. However, it does not necessarily mean that Viloria will be awarded the title with the fight likely to be declared a no contest.
Vester reported that the Nevada Attorney General has already filed a formal complaint against Nino and a hearing will be scheduled. Methamphetamine is described as "a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the central nervous. It causes increased activity, decreased appetite and a general sense of well-being." The effects can last from 6 to 8 hours and after the initial " rush" there is typically a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior."
Viloria who is known as the "Hawaiian Punch" but whose parents are both from Ilocos Sur said the findings gave him justice "in a weird sort of way." Viloria said it opened up a whole lot of answers or questions how he (Nino) went about the fight and claimed that if Nino "wasn?t on drugs, those knockdowns would have been a lot more significant" and that being on drugs Nino?s reaction "to just get back up. You don?t know what your capable of doing."
Viloria?s manager Gary Gittelsohn said he protest and argue that Viloria "deserves the belt" but that under the worst conditions he Viloria should fight the next contender for the vacant title. At the same time Gittelsohn said he believed
Viloria deserves the title immediately, lambasting the judging as "incompetent, not corrupt."
Gittelsohn said the drugs found in Nino could explain the Mexican?s energy level late in the bout. The general consensus was that he won the last two rounds against a comparatively inactive Viloria to salvage a draw with Viloria being blamed for not pressing his earlier advantage when he scored two knockdowns.
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