From the moment her drug test came back positive for a banned substance, Alejandra Jimenez has vowed to clear her name.

She will have to do just that if she plans to keep at least one of her super middleweight titles.

The two-division and current unified 168-pound titlist enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime following a spirited 10-round win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in their January 11 DAZN-streamed title fight in San Antonio, Texas. The aftermath, however, has been anything but celebratory, as it was learned that Jimenez (13-0-1, 9KOs) tested positive for the banned substance Stanazol. The test took place on January 10, one day before the fight but with the results not learned until January 24 when Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) reported the finding to the World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the two sanctioning bodies whose titles were at stake.

The other was the World Boxing Organization (WBO), who has issued a Show Cause order to Jimenez to provide sufficient evidence within ten (10) days of the letter—which was issued on January 29—of wrongdoing or contamination with the aforementioned test.

 “As you know, all participants in the World Boxing Organization are subject to strict compliance with the rules and regulations of the World Championship Contests that govern our institution,” Luis Batista-Salas, executive chairman of the WBO Championship Committee explained to Jimenez in the official order, a copy of which has been obtained by BoxingScene.com.

“Similarly, our institutional policy prohibits the use and / or consumption of any prohibited substance that endangers the health, safety and well-being of our participants. As applicable, Section 19 subsections (a), (b) (4), (c) (1), (e) (1), (2), (3), (4), (6) and (b), respectively, of the OMB World Championship Contest regulations, provide the following:

SECTION 19. WBO PARTICIPANT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS

·       If any WBO Participant has tested positive for the use and / or use of illegal drugs or that improve performance, the WBO World Championship Committee may recommend that the WBO President take the measures he deems appropriate, equitable and fair against the WBO Participant in accordance with these regulations.

Prohibited conduct

(4) Use and / or consumption of illegal drugs or any substance that improves performance, including, but not limited to, anabolic steroids and / or steroids

Procedures

In general, The WBO World Championship Committee will have all the powers and authority to request, examine, evaluate and consider each and every relevant fact and evidence in support of any WBO participant in relation to any allegation of violation. (es) of these prohibitions.

(1) Order Notice To Show Cause

In the event that the WBO World Championship Committee determines that there are grounds for believing the existence of the possibility that the WBO Participant has incurred in violation of any of the prohibitions of these Regulations, it will notify the Participant through the methods established in these rules. The Participant must demonstrate the reason for not enforcing it. If the Participant does not appear, respond and / or present any evidence in defense required within the period established in the notice to show cause the participant waives any other right established in our regulations and the Committee will resolve without further citing or hearing.

(e) Other resolutions

In relation to any Show Cause process, the WBO World Championship Committee will have the power and discretion to issue all determinations and resolutions, including but not limited to:

o   Designation to a lower position in the world rankings of the WBO

o   Exclusion of WBO world classifications

o   Excluded from world classifications for a period of not less than (2) years

o   Suspension of participation in all OMB regional and / or world combat

o   Any of the other decisions deemed necessary, useful or convenient to achieve the purposes, policies and intentions of the World Boxing Organization.

Jimenez and Crews-Dezurn (6-2, 2KOs) both underwent full VADA testing leading up to their title fight. According to letters already posted by Jimenez through social media, the unbeaten Mexican boxer—a former heavyweight titlist—was tested on December 15, January 10 and January 11. She tested negative on December 15 and January 11, while producing an adverse finding on January 10 from her tested “A” sample—which she claims is the result of a contaminated test and has already requested for her “B” sample to be opened and tested.

Baltimore’s Crews-Dezurn tested negative on all three occasions.

Because a sanctioning body does not have the same jurisdiction as a state or federal commission, the WBO lacks the power to overturn the official verdict or suspend the offending party.

The lone power that exists with the sanctioning body, is the ability to determine whether said athlete is fit to serve as their champion or contender.

It is in that vein, which the WBO has taken a stance on this matter.

"On the contrary, Section (b) The determination of the use of illegal drugs or the use of drugs that enhance the performance or use of stimulants under this Section or Section (19) (a) can only be made by the Local Commission that regulate the combat or commission issuing the WBO Participant's license if the test supports official results of WADA, VADA or any internationally recognized anti-doping entity.

“In accordance with the applicable regulations established in this letter, this Committee orders the WBO Participant Ms. Alejandra Jiménez to show cause within the next (10) days for which the Committee should not declare the WBO Women's World Super Middleweight Division title “Vacant” and, take any other determination in accordance with our regulations in the event of the alleged violation of the provisions mentioned herein. Failure to appear and / or present any evidence in defense of the allegations imputed herein constitutes a waiver of any other right and, the Committee may resolve and adjudicate the dispute.”

Jimenez’s drug testing snafu marks the second time a female boxer has produced a dirty sample since that side of the sport has begun stringent testing last summer. The previous claimant came in the very first fight to undergo VADA testing, as Heather Hardy produced a positive sample for the banned substance Lasix in her eventual 10-round featherweight title losing effort to record-setting seven divisional titlist Amanda Serrano last September in New York City.

Hardy was hit with a six-month suspension and a $10,000 fine by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), the maximum allowable penalty under such circumstances. The Brooklyn native and her team were able to get the NYSAC to shave two months off of the suspension, although a moot point as she still has to “prove her medical fitness to be released from medical suspension,” according to language provided by the NYSAC in its official ruling.

Jimenez’s case also remains under review with the WBC, as the Mexico City-based organization is currently awaiting the results of the “B” sample before proceeding any further. Should the drug test result remain in present form, the WBC has vowed to explore the possibility of overturning the official in-ring verdict and restore Crews-Dezurn as its super middleweight champion.

It has yet to be determined whether an independent investigation has been launched by the Texas Combative Sports Program, whose commission oversaw the title fight. Its office has not responded to an inquiry by BoxingScene.com seeking comment. No indication exists of an active investigation, as Jimenez has only been issued the state’s mandatory 30-day no-contact suspension following any given prizefight. 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox