Report: Jarrell Miller's drug tests revealed a cocktail of banned substances
On Tuesday, news broke that boxer Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller would lose his heavyweight title shot against champion Anthony Joshua because of a failed drug test.
ESPN’s Dan Rafael reported that Miller tested positive on March 20 for GW1516, a doping agent believed to improve endurance that has been show to cause cancer in lab animals.
Miller denied a license
The New York State Athletic Commission denied Miller a boxing license following the failed test, according to the report.
The title fight was scheduled for June 1 at Madison Square Garden.
On Friday, Rafael reported that subsequent drug tests revealed more banned substances in Miller’s system.
More drugs reportedly found
A March 31 blood test from Miller detected human growth hormone while a urine sample given the same day revealed EPO in addition to another positive test for GW1516.
HGH is one of the substances of choice used during baseball’s so-called steroids era of the 1990s and 2000s.
EPO is a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production and is believed to increase endurance and recovery in athletes. Lance Armstrong admitted to using both HGH and EPO while doping to win the Tour de France.
Miller owns up to mistakes on Instagram
Miller took to Instagram on Friday afternoon shortly after the news broke, vowing to own up to his mistakes and to “come back better.”
“I messed up. I made a bad call,” Miller said in an Instagram video. “[There are] a lot of ways to handle the situation. I handled it wrongly, and I’m paying the price for it. I messed up a big opportunity, and I’m hurting on the inside. My heart is bleeding right now. I hurt my family, my friends, my team, my supporters.
“But I’m going to own up to it. I’m going to deal with it. I’m going to correct it and I’m going to come back better ... It’s time to do right and get right.”
Joshua promoter: ‘I can’t believe it’
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told ESPN his team is looking for a new opponent for the scheduled June 1 event.
"To be honest I can't believe it,” Hearn said. “You always want to give an athlete the benefit of the doubt, but this leaves no doubt.
“It worries me that fighters feel the only way they can beat AJ is by taking banned substances. One thing we know is Miller is out. AJ's new opponent for June 1 will be announced next week. Clean fighters only need apply."
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