Margarito has licence suspended over 'loaded' gloves
• 'Plaster-like' substance found under hand wraps
• Mexican's lawyers say he will be proved innocent
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 January 2009 09.21 GMT
The former welterweight titleholder Antonio Margarito's licence was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission on Wednesday while it investigates what it described as a plaster-like substance found under the boxer's hand wraps before his loss last weekend to Shane Mosley.
The commission also suspended the licence of Margarito's trainer Javier Capetillo and asked both to appear at a hearing on 10 February.
The substance was collected as evidence before the bout last Saturday at Staples Center and was being analysed by the California Department of Justice, the commission said. The panel was still investigating whether any rules were violated.
The commission chairman, Tim Noonan, said the investigation stems from a commission rule that limits the amount and type of gauze and tape allowed under a fighter's glove. He said the commission has authority to discipline athletes when their actions are a "discredit to boxing". Reprimands could include fines, suspensions or revocation of licences. The commission did not say how long the investigation would last.
Bill Caplan, a spokesman for Margarito's promoter, said the boxer has obtained a lawyer and plans to attend the hearing. "He expects to prove himself innocent," said Caplan.
Caplan said he did not have any information on what substance was found on the hand wraps or what evidence the boxer planned to present. He referred further comment to the boxer's promoter, Bob Arum, who did not immediately return a message left at his office.
Margarito, of Tijuana, Mexico, lost his WBA welterweight title to Mosley in nine rounds and his record dropped to 37-6 with 27 knockouts. The 30-year-old did not win a single round on one judge's scorecard, one on another and two on the third before the ninth. He had his hands rewrapped before the fight after a complaint by Mosley's trainer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ja ... ane-mosely
Obviously didn't influence the outcome of the fight.
