Mariusz Wach Suspended for Steroids

Corey Erdman / January 22, 2013 - 4:57pm

Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach has officially been suspended for one year following a positive "A" test for steroids following his November loss to Wladimir Klitschko.

It was known that Wach would be suspended, but now the timeline of the suspension is known.

Below is the translated official statement from German Boxing Federation president Thomas Putz:

"As you know, Mariusz Wach has failed the doping control after a fight with Vladimir Klitschko in Hamburg on November 10. In this case, it means that the sample A revealed the presence of steroids. If you accept the results of the sample A and decide not to open the sample B, BDB officially suspend him for 12 months, starting on 10 November. In addition, you agree to pay a fine of 5.113 euros, provided the rules of the penalty for a first offense doping. This amount must be paid to the account of BDB, it will be transferred to the foundation by Max Schmeling. Please confirm that you accept Wach's sanctions proposed above."

Wach will be able to request a "B" sample, but this all may be a moot point. Earlier this month, "The Viking" told members of the media that he had "lost interest in boxing." Indeed, if there were ever a demoralizing beatdown, it was the one he suffered at the hands of Klitschko.

If he does decide to continue with his career, rest assured there are plenty of loose federations that will sanction him, including the one in his homeland of Poland.

Ironically, there were reports last week that Wach would be aiding fellow Polish heavyweight Przemysław Saleta as a sparring partner leading up to his farcical domestic clash with Andrew Golota. Saleta, you might have heard, is the boxer who suggested that all fighters should be allowed to use performance enhancing drugs.

Were Wach to continue, his performance against Klitschko—enhanced or not—shows that he has the chin to hang in there with any heavyweight in the world. And if you can hang around long enough in a heavyweight bout, you never know what can happen. (See: Weaver v. Tate)