Dennis Hogan explains drug testing problems for Jaime Munguia fight

Dennis Hogan had drug test worries weeks before he fought Jaime Munguia for the WBO light middleweight world title.

Controversy reigned after ‘The Hurricane’s’ points reverse to the Mexican in Mexico earlier this month, with most expressing disdain if not shock at the final scorecards, but it increased only further in the days that followed.

The WBO confirmed that neither fighter was drug tested after the bout, a surprising occurrence for a clash with a world title on the line.

The governing body laid the blame at the board of the local commission explaining they don’t have a ‘mandatory’ policy when he comes to world title fight drug testing – rather it is ‘encouraged’ and they do all but expect the local commission to test each fighter when their most prestigious titles are challenged for.

 “There was supposed to be testing,” WBO President Paco Valcárcel said afterwards “But the lab didn’t show up.”

“We have to presume the guy [Munguia] was clean. He has no history of any issues. The testing should have been done, but the lab didn’t show up, so there was nothing that could be done.”

The revelation added fuel to the angry fire burning inside Hogan fans in particular, but the fighter himself wasn’t surprised that neither he nor Munguia was tested.

The 34-year-old claims he was inquiring about testing a month out from the clash and was surprised at the reaction when he pushed the issue upon arriving in Mexico.

The Brisbane-based Kilcullen light middle says he became concerned when he still hadn’t been visited by any testers four weeks out from the fight.

He continued to raise it as a concern stressing he knew that, if he wasn’t being tested, neither was his physically imposing opponent.

“Before or after they will do a swab or a piss test. Even before my [WBA interim] title fight in Germany they came and tested me while I was in the Celtic Warrior Gym.”

“About four weeks out from the [Munguia] fight I started asking ‘am I going to get tested here?’ I knew if I wasn’t he wasn’t. Every week I asked that question,” Hogan explained during a sit down with Irish-Boxing.com and the42.ie’s Gavan Casey this week.

Upon arriving in Mexico, the lilywhite asked his coach Glenn Rushton to investigate further and admits he became increasingly concerned with the reaction and response of the WBO officials on the ground.

“I said it to Glenn when we arrived and reminded him before the day of the weight. I was asking ‘what’s the story? This is crazy’.”

“Glenn brought it up at the fighter’s meeting, that we said it to [a WBO supervisor] and he said he would go and check, he walked away and never came back again. He went away to see where the lab where and they never showed up.”

“He never rang them or if he did… that’s what I mean it leaves it all open for you to say something is dodgy,” he concludes.

“The official answer was the drug tester never showed up,” points out promoter Paul Keegan with raised eyebrows.