Drug test rift puts Donaire bout in jeopardy

It appears WBO and Ring Magazine junior featherweight champion Nonito Donaire is threatening to pull out of his world title bout with fellow titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Donaire (31-1, 20 KO) stated on his Twitter account that he will not be attending this Thursday’s press conference in New York to announce the bout because of Rigondeaux’s refusal to submit to drug testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency Association (VADA).

He also stated that he has not signed a contract to fight Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO) and will not sign until his Cuban rival agrees to the testing:

Donaire, who is currently the only fighter who submits to VADA testing on a year-round basis, then stated that he will be looking for new opponents with his manager Cameron Dunkin, giving the impression that he intends to pull out of the fight.

Rigondeaux’s manager, Gary Hyde, said his fighter has not refused the drug testing and will meet with him tomorrow in New York City to sign an agreement to submit to the VADA testing:

“… I wouldn’t expect there will be any problem signing up for the VADA testing. All the excuses are out of the way now and Donaire should just sign the contract and give the boxing fans all over the world the fight they deserve.”

He also said in a statement issued to Boxing Scene that Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) in Burlingame, Calif., has agreed to send him all the substances he is supplying to Donaire:

“Donaire should not put anymore misleading posts on Twitter. Let’s get it on. [It is] Rigo’s time to show the world who’s boss.”

If Donaire decides to still pursue the bout and both sides reach an agreement regarding the VADA testing, it will headline HBO’s World Championship Boxing telecast on April 13 from New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

It will be the first bout held at Radio City since Roy Jones Jr. defeated David Telesco via unanimous decision on Jan. 15, 2000 to retain his WBC, WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles.