AP Sports- Boxer did not know he was taking steroids.

windwords7

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<DIV class=storyheadline>Hey bro's! Just saw this and thought it was interesting. "they tracked it down to a liquid supplement called Decavar that Vargas was taking. Someone in the training camp, they said, apparently added the steroids to the supplement."</DIV>

<DIV class=storyheadline>That's what you get for taking Decavar!</DIV>

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<DIV class=storyheadline>Boxer Vargas Suspended Nine Months </DIV><!-- TextStart --><I>By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer</I> LAS VEGAS (AP) - Fernando Vargas wanted everyone to know he didn't know he was taking steroids. Nevada boxing officials wanted Vargas to know that was no excuse.

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<TD width=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Both sides got their points across during a hearing before the Nevada Athletic Commission that ended with Vargas being suspended from fighting until June 15 and fined $100,000. Vargas got a chance to make his case that he would never knowingly use steroids. He also got a harsher penalty than he expected Wednesday when the Nevada Athletic commission suspended him for nine months retroactive to his Sept. 14 fight with Oscar De La Hoya. The suspension means Vargas cannot fight until June 15 and will miss a proposed April comeback fight that was to be shown on network TV. "We like Mr. Vargas but we feel like this is the right thing to do," commission Chairman Luther Mack said. Vargas spent two hours before the commission telling them he would take responsibility for the positive test, but that he never knowingly used steroids while preparing to meet De La Hoya for the 154-pound titles. "I live and die in that ring. I don't want people to ever feel I needed something like this," Vargas said. Commissioners appeared to believe the steroid use was inadvertent, but still voted 4-1 to penalize Vargas and send a message that steroids won't be tolerated. It was believed to be the first time a boxer has been suspended for steroid use, although Francois Botha was stripped of his IBF heavyweight title in 1995 for testing positive in Germany. "I'm a man. I take full responsibility," Vargas said. "The only thing is the layoff is definitely going to be hard." Vargas said he had hired a nutritionist in the weeks before the fight to help him lose weight and make the 154-pound limit, and took a number of nutritional supplements and vitamins given to him without questioning them. He said he had never felt or looked so good before a fight, but had attributed it to the fact he had trained hard and maintained good nutritional habits. Vargas said he went to three different clinics to give a urine sample after being taken to the hospital after the fight, and was shocked when he got a phone call while vacationing in Hawaii two weeks later that he had tested positive. Nevada just this year began testing for steroids. The urine test revealed the steroid stanozolol, the same drug that cost sprinter Ben Johnson (news - external web site) his gold medal and world record in the 100 meters in the 1988 Olympics. "I obviously knew I was going to be tested for steroids," Vargas said. "I went out of my way after the hospital to look for a clinic." Though Vargas and his attorney, Pat English, never came out and blamed the camp nutritionist for giving him steroids, they made it clear the nutritionist had been fired and that any future employees would have their backgrounds scrutinized much more. "I don't place blame on anyone except myself," Vargas said. "At the end of the day I'm the captain of my ship." Vargas, who appeared well over the 154-pound weight class where he won two world championships, appeared in a suit and tie and brought his fiance and two young sons to the hearing in a cramped conference room. Mike Tyson also showed up to watch the proceedings and offer moral support to his friend and fellow fighter. "It was an innocent mistake. He's just naive," Tyson said afterward. "Hopefully he'll grow from this." Vargas and English did not contest the steroid test result, and said they tracked it down to a liquid supplement called Decavar that Vargas was taking. Someone in the training camp, they said, apparently added the steroids to the supplement. Vargas said he wasn't even aware that steroids could be taken orally. He said he thought they had to be administered by a needle. English argued against the nine-month suspension, asking that it only be for six months so that Vargas could fight in a proposed boxing series on NBC in April. But, although commissioner Flip Homansky voted against it, the rest of the commission approved the nine-month ban. In an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to get the ban reduced, Vargas offered to donate his entire purse from his next fight to fund steroid education. Vargas said he would still work to educate others about steroid use. Though the fine was substantial, it didn't come close to the $3 million — or 10 percent of his purse — that Tyson was fined by the same commission for biting a piece off Evander Holyfield's ear in their 1997 fight. Vargas' manager, Rolando Arellano, said by the time the pay-per-view receipts are totaled, Vargas will have made between $8 million and $11 million for fighting De La Hoya
 

Kay

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i heard abou this too, funny story, especially considering he still lost!
 
sage

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i heard abou this too, funny story, especially considering he still lost!
ha ha. so true. vargas a punk anyways. boxing got some soldiers: jones jr stil beingl my favorite cuz he all cocky and knows he can back that shid up. thats probably the sporting event i would like to see (front row jones jr fight with someone also hardcore) this or the rosebowl when my UW huskies are in it and maybe tyson (if i can be guarenteed 4 + rounds)
 

snakeman458

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ignorance and blind stupidity is no excuse for vet boxer, or anyone.
 
Clintdogg

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jones jr is good and all, but he hasnt fought anyone. he cant move up anymore, and he keeps fighting chumps.
 
sage

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jones jr is good and all, but he hasnt fought anyone. he cant move up anymore, and he keeps fighting chumps.
this true but there really isnt anyone for him to fight at his weight class or the one below. (cept' maybe mosley) he can fight butterbean all year long and still be pretty raw to me.
 

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