Trainer’s Controversial Past
A trainer associated with Canelo Álvarez reportedly promoted performance-enhancing drugs, including human growth hormone, prior to joining the boxer’s team, according to the Guardian.
Upcoming Super Fight
Rulas Arreola, also known as Raul Arreola Dosal, has accompanied Canelo to Las Vegas for an anticipated match against undefeated American Terence Crawford this Saturday. The fight is being touted as a “once-in-a-lifetime event, heralding a new era in boxing.”
Denial of Wrongdoing
Arreola claims he has never sold or recommended any banned substances to athletes subject to anti-doping regulations. Nevertheless, the ongoing issues surrounding performance-enhancing drugs in boxing threaten to overshadow the live-streamed event on Netflix.
Concerns Raised
Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), expressed concern regarding Arreola’s social media posts promoting these substances, noting that they are “significant flags that warrant investigation.”
Professional Background
Arreola, a physical trainer, has worked with Álvarez in two separate periods, initially from August 2017 to December 2018, and again since spring 2023. He operates the Radical Nutrition gym in Guadalajara, Mexico, and creates personalized training plans for clients. He also previously advertised performance-enhancing drugs on his social media accounts while not holding a boxing license.
Historical Context
Between 2016 and 2017, Arreola promoted these banned substances on his Facebook accounts, including various peptides and synthetic human growth hormone designed to improve athletic performance. These posts vanished only after media inquiries were made.
Reactions and Future Implications
In light of these revelations, Álvarez’s head coach, Eddy Reynoso, has defended himself amid criticisms about the camp’s history with doping violations. Reynoso stated his commitment to clean boxing and intends to form a dedicated nutrition team to collaborate with anti-doping officials. Both Álvarez and Reynoso have not commented on Arreola’s business activities.
