Erik Morales Tests Positive for Banned Substance Prior to Danny Garcia Fight

Performance-enhancing drugs may KO another big fight, as Erik Morales has tested positive for a banned substance prior to his Saturday rematch with WBA and WBC junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia. 

According to a report from halestormsports.com, the Mexican legend tested positive for a substance on the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list, although the exact substance is not known at this time. 

Ben Thompson of FightHype.com is reporting that Morales' A sample tested positive and the results of the B sample should be known tomorrow.  

It is being reported at this time that the fight will still go on, but the WBA and WBC titles will no longer be on the line. 

In the first meeting between the two, Morales failed to make weight, so one has to wonder if the banned substance could have been furosemide, a diuretic used to cut weight or a masking agent for steroids.

Fellow Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., who has well-documented battles with the scale, tested positive for furosemide following a 2009 fight. 

Morales, who is most well-known for his legendary trilogy with fellow Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera and his victory over Manny Pacquiao, was seeking to become a two-time junior welterweight champion with a win over Garcia.

2012 will be known as the year of the PED in boxing, as Lamont Peterson, Andre Berto and Antonio Tarver have all tested positive for banned substances.  

If the news is true that Morales tested positive, this would certainly put a tarnish on an otherwise stellar Hall of Fame career.