Mauricio Lara receives two-year doping ban for failed test

Mauricio Lara, a former featherweight world champion, has received a two-year ban from boxing after testing positive for the prohibited substance betamethasone following his rematch against Leigh Wood. The ban, announced by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), is backdated to start from March 7, 2024, meaning Lara will be eligible to compete again by March 6, 2026. Despite claiming that the substance entered his system due to a shoulder injection received days before the fight, UKAD found no sufficient explanation for the positive test. Lara has not offered any alternative reasoning for the doping violation and has faced scrutiny for failing to adequately address the test results. His most recent fight prior to the ban was a draw against Daniel Lugo in February 2024, following his loss to Wood. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding doping violations in professional sports.