David Benavidez says David Morrell complained about the drug testing for their February 1st fight and believes he doesn't want to be tested by VADA.
WBA interim welterweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is dubious, saying WBA 'regular' champion Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) may be worried “something might come up” in one of his tests.
Benavidez is playing the PED card
Some fans see Benavidez's complaints as laying the early groundwork for a PED pronunciation prematurely blame the potential loss of Morrell on potential steroid use.
As soon as Benaivdez mentions steroids during the build, people will view Morrell's victory with suspicion. Morrell wouldn't even have to test positive for PEDs for people to believe he used because of the steroid being associated with his name during the build-up.
Benavidez they would receive less fan reviews, and his stock wouldn't have fallen nearly as much if they believed Morrell was dirty. It wouldn't have mattered if Morrell had never tested positive for steroids. Benavidez mentioning it during the interview would have made people believe Morrell was using PEDS, and that would have tainted his win.
“When he was fighting, go and look at the people he was fighting with. They said they did VADA and they didn't get David Morrell to do VADA,” David Benavidez told MillCity boxing. “There were two different fighters who did it.
“He tried to do the same s*** to me because we've been in the game for 13 weeks. When I fought Caleb Plant, we started testing for 14 weeks. Boo Boo Andrade 14 weeks out. How come this guy (Morrell) goes into his biggest fight ever and doesn't have to do any VADA and he's already been accused of using steroids.
“I'm not saying he's on steroids or anything, but when you're not trying to do a VADA test, the s*** looks kind of weird. Also, he says he is a lab rat because he is being tested. It is what it is. This is pure boxing. We do VADA every week or every other week.
It would be better if Benavidez doesn't discuss PEDs before the fight because he seems like he's already planning an excuse if things don't go his way in the Morrell fight.
“If you don't like it, you're probably doing something or you're probably a little worried that something might come up on these VADA tests,” Benavidez said. I have been tested more than anyone in VADA and these are the facts. I have been tested more than 30 times and have never complained. I never said I was a lab rat.
“This guy (Morrell) has barely been tested three times and he says he's a lab rat. Go watch the fights and watch the people accusing him. I was never accused of taking steroids. Then, when you see the press conference, as soon as I said, 'Steroids, you guys didn't want to test,' that's when Luis DeCubas got up and started talking ***. Then they moved away.
“So, I don't know. You be the judge of that. I'm pointing things out, but you're not going to play me like an idiot. If there are VADA tests, then let's do it and make it a clean boxing,” said Benavidez.
