No Sweetpea! Whitaker Fails Drug Test
Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker reportedly tested positive for drugs last week, putting in jeopardy his April 25 fight with WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey, according to a published report.
The Virginian-Pilot reported in a story today that Whitaker's co-manager, Shelly Finkel, said he was informed by Whitaker's lawyer that Whitaker failed a drug test. A second source, not identified by the paper, confirmed the positive result.
The lawyer, Pat English, however, said it was too early to make any statement about the test.
"I don't have information as of yet," English said. "We're waiting it out to see what the situation is."
Whitaker, 34, faces an automatic six-month suspension for a positive test.
Whitaker was suspended after a positive test for cocaine following his victory over Andrei Pestriaev on Oct. 17 at the Pequot's Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Whitaker and English argued the test by the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Commission was flawed and convinced the WBA not to recognize the suspension.
An official of HBO Sports, which planned to broadcast the Las Vegas fight, said it appeared the April 25 bout was off.
"We are proceeding as if it is off," said Lou DiBella, the vice president of HBO Sports. He said he had received no official word of a positive test, but had heard numerous rumors.
Marc Ratner, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, also said he had not received any official notification.
"I've heard rumors, I've heard allegations, but I haven't heard anything from the promoter or the hotel (Caesars Palace) that the fight is off," Ratner said. "As far as we're concerned, the fight is still on. If the fight is canceled, I'm sure I'll be one of the first to know."
Whitaker submitted to a random drug test last week under the terms of a settlement that lifted a previous suspension for the positive cocaine test last October.
Finkel said Whitaker took the test last Thursday in which two samples were taken. He also gave two samples in a separate test as part of his prefight physical. It was unclear which test had the positive result.
Finkel said he was awaiting the results of the second sample. When the first sample tests positive, the second sample is tested to ensure accuracy.
Whitaker, a six-time world champion in four weight classes, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Whitaker does not have a listed telephone number.
The commission, while sticking by its test results, agreed to lift the suspension as long as Whitaker agreed to random drug testing.
Besides the possible six-month suspension, WBA rules would ban Whitaker from WBA title fights and rankings for two years.
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