MPO has obtained the Complaint filed by boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. against the Nevada Athletic Commission for declining a drug test administered by the Commission. The boxer hopes to prevail with an injunction filed in conjunction with the Complaint as he has a fight December 20, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona that is at risk of being cancelled.
The lawsuit, filed in Clark County, Nevada, argues that Chavez did not hold a Nevada boxer’s license and was not subject to a NAC drug test. According to the Complaint, an October 24, 2019 drug test at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California was turned down by Chavez. As a result, on November 20, 2019 the NAC issued a temporary suspension to Chavez for his failure to participate in the drug test. Chavez contends that since he was not licensed by the Commission, he had no obligation to participate in the drug testing process. He also argued in his complaint that the suspension of an unlicensed boxer is not permitted by law.
Chavez, Jr. is scheduled to fight Daniel Jacobs in Phoenix, Arizona on December 20th. The fight, originally scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the same date, was moved to Phoenix due to the November 20th ruling by the NAC. The lawsuit hopes to allow Chavez, Jr. to fight despite the denial of a drug test.
A preliminary injunction will take place to determine whether Chavez, Jr. can fight on December 20th. If granted, the fight is on, if not, one might expect that it would add to any potential damages in the lawsuit.
Complaint by Jason Cruz on Scribd
Payout Perspective:
Its important to note that Ross Goodman is the attorney for Chavez, Jr. He also represented Wanderlei Silva in a similar case which went up to the Nevada State Supreme Court to address the issue of whether the NAC had jurisdiction over an unarmed combatant not licensed within the state. The State Supreme Court did not issue a ruling as the underlying issues regarding Silva’s ban was not clarified by the commission. Thus, there was no clear ruling on the issue. Here, Goodman may get a second chance to determine what might be a loophole in the NAC code. MMA Payout will keep you posted.
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