Alvarez-Triple G fight in jeopardy on drug complaint

Chivas Regal and fans of the Chivas Fight Club join Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (R) and Canelo Álvarez as they discuss their anticipated rematch at LA LIVE on February 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Rich Polk/Getty Images for Chivas Regal/AFP

LAS VEGAS — Nevada boxing regulators have filed a formal complaint against Canelo Alvarez for doping violations, putting his May 5 middleweight title rematch with Gennady Golovkin in jeopardy.

Alvarez could be suspended for a year for testing positive twice for the performance-enhancing drug Clenbuterol in random urine tests conducted in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, in February.

An April 18 hearing was set on the complaint by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, replacing an earlier April 10 hearing that had been set. The hearing is just two weeks before the fight, making it doubtful the fight will proceed on that date.

Nevada boxing regulations call for a one-year ban for first violations, though it can be cut in half at the commission’s discretion. Even if Alvarez gets a six-month suspension, the fight would not take place until August at the earliest.