Nino’s title is reviewed after positive drug test

Omar Nino retained his World Boxing Council light-flyweight title earlier this month by twice rallying from knockdowns, unanimously winning the final two rounds against Hawaiian challenger Brian Viloria and claiming a draw.

Now, Nino’s belt and performance stand under review after the Nevada Athletic Commission’s revelation that the champion from Guadalajara provided a post-fight urine sample that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Nino is demanding that the commission follow WBC guidelines and perform a second test on his sample, insisting the first test result was flawed, the fighter’s manager, Fernando Beltran, said Wednesday. The commission was expected to announce Nino’s temporary suspension at its Tuesday meeting, with a hearing to follow by January, officials said.

“The kid said he didn’t take anything, and, honestly, I trust this kid,” Beltran said. “He’s super surprised. He’s asking as a fighter, as a sportsman, how do you take that [drug] when you perform at a high level over 12 rounds like he did? He’s very curious about this result.”

Viloria wants the WBC to strip Nino of his belt. Viloria (19-1-1, 12 knockouts) first lost his title to Nino (24-2-2, 10) by unanimous decision in August, and was left stunned by judges’ scores after his Nov. 18 draw with Nino at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Viloria knocked down Nino twice in the fight.

Viloria’s manager, Gary Gittelsohn, said meth -- an illegal street drug popular because of its cheap cost and stimulating effects -- should certainly be considered a performance-enhancing drug that affected the fight’s outcome.

“Any doctor would suggest [meth] is a performance-enhancing drug; it’s a stimulant,” Gittelsohn said. “A poor kid like Nino isn’t going to BALCO. He’s taking what he can in the back room of a dirty gym. I don’t know his exact intentions for taking it, but he was fighting for a world championship.”

WBC Executive Secretary Mauricio Sulaiman said he had ordered a WBC medical official to review the Nino test results, and file a report in “this rare case” by Friday.

Sulaiman said the possibility that Nino’s title would be vacated was one of “several provisions in our rules,” but Sulaiman added he did not expect to also give the belt to Viloria.

Dr. Tony Alamo, the Nevada Athletic Commission’s chairman, said Nino faces a possible suspension, boxing license revocation, a fine and a commission ruling that the Nov. 18 bout is a no-decision.