In a devastating turn that has shocked the world of boxing, Terence “Bud” Crawford has positively given a prohibited substance test after its controversial unanimous decision victory over Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez on September 13, 2025 at the Allegiant Stadium of Las Vegas. The revelation, confirmed by the Nevada Athletic Commission on September 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm PDT (9:00 am Ict, September 22), has led Canelo to demand that Crawford be stripped of the supermedian weight titles of the AMB, CMB, OMB, IBF and The Ring. With the filtration of a scoring card of the referee that favored Canelo and prior accusations of arbitration partiality, this news has intensified the crisis around the fight, unleashing a wave of indignation and demands to annul the result.

The positive for prohibited substances

The Nevada Athletic Commission announced that Crawford tested positive for a synthetic testosterone derivative in a test after the fight, verified by a secondary sample. The substance, prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), could result in a two-year suspension and the loss of the titles that Crawford won by defeating Canelo (116-112, 115-113, 115-113). The fight, seen by 70,482 fans and 41 million spectators in Netflix, made Crawford the first male boxer to achieve the undisputed champion status in three divisions in the era of the four belts, but now his victory is fogged by this serious infraction.

Canelo, upon learning of the news during a live broadcast on Instagram on September 21, seen by 4 million followers, exploded from fury. “Crawford cheated! He used substances to overcome me,” he said. “Dispose of the titles and return me. This is a shame for boxing!” His demand resonated in X, where the hashtags #despojenacrawford and #JusticiaParacanelo generated 18 million interactions in a few hours. “Canelo was stolen. The doping is tested #Vivamexico,” wrote a fan. Another added: “BUD is a cheater. They cancel the fight! #BoxingsCandal.”

Controversy context

The fight was already wrapped in multiple scandals. The referee Thomas Taylor admitted in a video filtered by the AMB that favored Crawford under pressure to “crown a new king.” Manny Pacquiao accused Crawford to bribe Judge Max Deluca, backed by alleged bank records. In addition, a filtered score card of the referee Taylor, published in X, showed Canelo winning 117-111, contradicting official scores. Canelo’s claims that he was “forced to lose” and his recent refutation of accusations of fixing the fight have intensified tensions.

Crawford’s positive test adds a new dimension to the saga. Canelo’s team, led by lawyer Ricardo Castañeda, presented an urgent request to the AMB, CMB, OMB and IBF to cancel the result and restore Canelo’s titles. “Doping is the final proof that this fight was a farce,” said Castañeda. The promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted: “Crawford cheated Canelo and the world. The titles must return to its owner #Vivamexico.”

Crawford’s response

The Crawford team denied the accusations, claiming that the substance could have entered its system through contaminated supplements. “Bud is a clean fighter,” said coach Brian McIntyre toESPN. “This is a montage to discredit your legacy.” Crawford, facing a possible suspension, tweeted: “I used nothing intentionally. The truth will come out #budthegoat.” However, his recent cryptic confession – “He paid me and asked me to use …” – He has weakened his defense, with many interpreting that he refers to the use of prohibited substances under external pressure.

In X, fans are divided. “Crawford is a cheater. Canelo deserves its #despojenacrawford belts,” a user wrote. Another defended Crawford: “Canelo is crying because he lost. Bud is the best #teambud.” Compubox data, which show that Canelo connected 99 power strokes compared to the 115 of Crawford, have fueled the argument that the doping gave Crawford an unfair advantage.

Research and potential consequences

The Nevada Athletic Commission has scheduled an emergency hearing for September 22 to address the Crawford doping, Taylor’s partiality and the filtered card. The AMB, CMB, OMB and IBF have indicated that they could strip Crawford of their titles if the violation is confirmed, returning them to Canelo or leaving them vacant. A non-contest decision could pave the way for a rematch in 2026, with revenue projections of more than 600 million dollars, according toForbes.

The Saudi Turki Al-Sheikh financier, who supported the $ 500 million contract, faces a growing scrutiny, although he denies any implication. “We want clean boxing,” he said in a statement. The filtration of the scoring card and Crawford’s positive have revived the calls to reform boxing, with stricter anti -doping test proposals and score assisted by AI.