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Vince Cleverly: Was desperate Enzo tempted to cheat?

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Fellow-Welshman comments on Maccarinelli rumours

WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly’s father Vince has spoken to WBN following internet rumours that touted future opponent to his son, Enzo Maccarinelli has recently failed a doping test.

Cleverly, who has guided his son to three successful world title defences and an unbeaten 24-fight record, believes that any fighter who finds their skills deteriorating could be vulnerable to making a career-ending mistake.

“When a guy is desperate to get back the good years I think he's always tempted to cheat a bit in some way,” Cleverly told World Boxing News.

“To be honest, I don’t think Maccarinelli is capable of cheating, but when a man’s career nose dives who knows what their capable of as they have nothing to lose.

“Anybody getting caught using illegal substances should be banned. It’s not fair on the hard working genuine guys like Nathan.”

The UK-Anti doping agency have today told WBN that their policy is not to comment on whether any athlete has provided a positive or negative sample until all the avenues of appeal have been covered for the participant.

Even if the results/rumours are in favour of Maccarinelli, he will find it tough to scrub out the stains that even a rumoured test failure can bring and the former cruiserweight king may have now seen any chance of an all-Welsh world title fight fade away.

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