Lara gets doping ban for failed test after Wood bout

Former featherweight world champion Mauricio Lara has been banned for two years for an anti-doping violation, UK Anti-Doping has announced.

The Mexican tested positive for banned substance betamethasone on 28 May, 2023 after his loss to Nottingham’s Leigh Wood in Manchester.

Betamethasone is banned in competition by Ukad.

Lara, 27, claimed the positive test was caused by an injection into his shoulder on 12 May in the build-up to the Wood bout, but Ukad said that did not explain how betamethasone entered his system.

According to Ukad, he offered no other explanation for the failed drug test.

The ban has been backdated to start from 7 March, 2024 and will end on 6 March, 2026.

Lara has fought once since losing to Wood, drawing with Daniel Lugo in Mexico in February 2024.

He rose to prominence in 2021 by beating Leeds star Josh Warrington in a huge upset, before going on to claim the WBA featherweight title from Wood in February 2023.