Whitaker's urine test before fight showed cocaine; appeal expected

Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's urine test taken before his fight in
Connecticut 19 days ago showed traces of cocaine, his promoter said Tuesday.

Whitaker, reached at his home, disputed the finding. ``I can tell you one
thing: it's not true,'' Whitaker said. ``That's all I've got to say.''

The Whitaker camp learned Friday that Whitaker had tested positive for a
banned substance, but didn't receive written notification from the
Mashantucket Pequot Gaming and Athletic Commission or learn what the
substance was until Tuesday. The welterweight fight at Foxwoods Resort
Casino between Whitaker and Andrei Pestriaev was Oct. 17.

Main Events president Dino Duva, Whitaker's promoter, said further
information and documentation must be obtained and then the test result
likely will be appealed. Whitaker may also request a hearing.

``There's a multistep process we have to go through stepbystep,'' Duva
said. ``We're probably going to ask for a second test to be administered.''

Duva said if the positive test result stands it would be detrimental to
Whitaker's boxing future, but not devastating. Duva said a positive test
should not prevent him from putting together a marquee matchup for Whitaker
in the spring. Whitaker has said he will fight probably one more time, at
the most twice.

``If it proves to be true it's more of a step back for Pernell
personally,'' Duva said. ``HBO has told me if this proves to be positive
they'd like to see Pernell take care of it on a personal level, but they're
not going to desert Pernell.''

The suspension is for 30 days, pending the appeal process. Duva and Main
Events lawyer Pat English said Tuesday they were unclear what all the
ramifications were for Whitaker because they do not have a copy of the
rules from the Mashantucket Pequot Commission, which regulates boxing on
the Indian reservation where the fight took place. It's unclear whether
Whitaker's victory by decision could be overturned or if the suspension
could be extended beyond 30 days.

English said it could take a couple of weeks to gather all the documents
needed such as the chain of custody records on the urine sample,
specific test results and the lab report to file an appeal.

``It's not unusual for an initial drug test not to prove out to be true for
one reason or another,'' English said. ``We'll be slow and deliberate and
get to the bottom of it.''

Under the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996, a suspension from
one boxing commission is automatically upheld by all other commissions.

Virginia boxing commissioner Doug Beavers of Portsmouth said he does not
know of an instance where the outcome of a fight was overturned because of
a drug test. He said the fight usually is declared no contest and is struck
from both fighters' records.

HBO Sports vice president Lou DiBella expressed disappointment Tuesday.
Whitaker has fought on HBO more than any boxer in the cable network's
history since they first hooked up in 1990.

``It's an upsetting story for me; I hope it's not true,'' DiBella said.
``We're concerned for his wellbeing right now, that takes precedent over
his career. If it's true he has a problem, hopefully he'll address it and
fix it.''

Whitaker cotrainer/conditioning coach Bob Wareing was dumbfounded to hear
the fighter tested positive for cocaine.

``That seems absurd to me,'' Wareing said. ``How could he be doing cocaine
before a fight? He was in training camp. What is he doing, going to
nightclubs while I'm sleeping or something? I'm completely at a loss.''