WBC begins investigation into doping by Mosley

Dec 16, 2008 - 6:52 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The World Boxing Council has started an investigation of Shane Mosley in the wake of recent reports that Mosley testified under oath that he used performance-enhancing drugs leading up to his 2003 fight against Oscar De La Hoya, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

Just over three months after defeating De La Hoya to win the WBO junior middleweight title, Mosley told a grand jury that he used steroids and EPO as part of his training regimen.

"It was a real surprise to read that Mosley has confessed that he did take those medicines, those drugs that are totally prohibited by the WBC," council president Jose Sulaiman told the Daily News. "The WBC rules state that we must have a hearing. This is a matter of serious concern to us."

Mosley has insisted that he did not know the drugs he took were illegal.

Sulaiman has directed the WBC's legal counsel to gather evidence on Mosley to present to the council's 29-member board of governors. The rules allow the organization to issue disqualifications or fines, even after a fight has concluded.

"Thus far, the WBC has seen only press reports, and must therefore investigate any available evidence and review it, in terms of the WBC rules and regulations' anti-doping provisions," said Robert Lenhardt, the WBC's legal counsel.

This investigation coincides with a defamation lawsuit Mosley filed against BALCO founder Victor Conte. That suit claims Conte told newspapers he watched Mosley inject himself with EPO that the boxer knew what he was taking.

A four-time champion, Mosley is scheduled to return to the ring and meet WBA welterweight king Antonio Margarito at Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 24.