Things got pretty heated during this week’s conference call between Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz (really more so with his manager, though), when Wilder said that the ‘once a cheater, always a cheater’ rule applies to his upcoming opponent Ortiz, who last year failed a drug testleading into their previously scheduled fight. Ortiz, however, retorts that he would never jeopardize his career by taking banned substances to gain an edge.
In fact Ortiz says he’s been taking medication to treat his high blood pressure for two years, and not to mask any PEDs. He just never realized that the prescribed medication could have him flunk his pre-fight drug test.
“I’m clean. The dose they found in my system was too low to mask anything at all. If I would have known this prescription drug was not allowed, I would have told my trainer and my doctor.
“I’m a heavyweight. I don’t need to make weight. Why am I going to go to the trouble of taking an illegal substance that makes you go to the bathroom a lot? I have no need. I simply didn’t know it was banned.”
Ortiz followed up by stating that now that he’s gone through this whole ordeal, there are no more excuses for slip ups. Ortiz’s manager also exclaimed that if there’s any doubt about Ortiz being clean, he’s already been tested seven times by VADA and NYSAC leading up to their March 3rd fight.
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