What the f**k is Clenbuterol?

Written by Ryan Langdon

Yesterday, mega sensation Canelo Alverez was in the news for a recent controversy. He, what people in the biz say, “pissed hot,” failing a drug test prior to his upcoming super fight verses Gennady Golovkin. However, the substance that was found in his urine was not something you hear every day. Sources say that his urine contained trace amounts of Clenbuterol. “What the fuck is that,” said most people. Luckily, I have a very expensive piece of paper that says that I know science-y stuff, and now I am here to help explain what exactly is going on here.

According to a medical resource database that I am pretty underqualified to have access to, Clenbuterol is a prohibited-hormonal performance enhancing drug that was first identified in 1992. Two Americans were busted for it at the Olympic games, and since then, athletes in sports requiring a weight limit like weight lifting, wresting, and BOXING, have been utilizing this doping agent ever since. The drug helps in oxygen distribution, weight loss, and has anabolic effects that limits the breakdown of protein in the muscles. Basically, it allows you to have better cardio and cut fat without decreasing muscle mass.

Clearly Clenbuterol helps with pretty much everything a boxer needs to improve performance, so what exactly is the controversial part? Great question, Ryan. Clenbuterol is found in meat... in Mexico… where Canelo Alverez happens to have been training for this fight. The Clenbuterol is used by farmers to build lean meat in their cattle. So by simply eating this genetically modified animal, you can fail a drug test. Even my overpriced medical database says, “There has been some concern that clenbuterol-contaminated food could result in positive drug testing.” So the evidence behind the trace amounts in his system helps strengthen his defense that it came from his diet, but do we actually believe him? Canelo has been notorious for struggling to make weight. Just look at the picture below… Canelo looks YOLKED. There is a lot of pressure riding on this fight, and that may have forced Alverez to seek every advantage that he could get.

Whether he has used the substance for illegal doping or if he just simply loves eating contaminated double bacon cheese burgers, this whole thing leaves a nasty taste in the mouth of many boxing fans. Although this fight still plans to take place on May 5th (likely due to the boatloads of money this event will generate), the shadow of this scandal will follow Canelo for the months to come giving GGG a win-win situation. If he wins, he beat a guy who dopes… if he loses, it’s because he fought a guy who dopes. Either way, this fight is going to be dope (pun extremely intended).