It costs pennies to make and a few more pennies to buy. You can buy a case of them on the internet for about $80. It’s usually about four ounces in size and made of polyethylene with graduated markings. Hopefully, it’s leakproof, odorproof and shatterproof.
The content inside it has changed the course of history in sports, destroyed careers and cost people millions of dollars.
It’s a specimen cup, and it’s contents have perhaps forever changed the life of Washington junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson.
Peterson, who fought his way into the spotlight with his controversial upset win over title holder and heavy favorite Amir Khan in December in a memorable night of boxing at the Washington Convention Center, reportedly failed a drug test for a banned substance leading up to his previously scheduled rematch against Khan on May 19 in Las Vegas.
The positive test has been costly for Peterson, who was homeless as a child with his brother and fellow fighter Anthony before being looked after by boxing trainer Barry Hunter and rising to become championship contenders.
Golden Boy Promotions — Oscar De La Hoya’s company and Khan’s promoter — called off the fight. Peterson was to earn an estimated $4 million in the rematch.
Khan’s promoters will now seek to have Peterson’s December win over Khan overturned and have Peterson stripped of the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles he took from Khan.
There are plans in the works for a movie about the life story of Peterson. Who will play Khan? The British boxer told Sky Sports News, “I really, really wanted to win my titles back and have the fight. But the truth’s come out now and it just proves that Lamont Peterson was a cheat really.”
Not exactly a Hollywood ending.
All this because of what was in a specimen cup.
Peterson wasn’t cheating. It was his people who called for the strict Olympic-style drug testing in the first place. He says it was for a medical condition, and I believe him. His attorney, Jeff Fried, presented strong documentation supporting their case.
Peterson asked for a hearing before the Nevada Athletic Commission. But the damage was done.
Golden Boy has been trying to turn back the clock ever since Peterson won the controversial decision over Khan. District referee Joe Cooper had deducted two points from Khan for pushing, and there were questions about confusion on the scorecards and mystery men at ringside influencing the decision. They sought to have both the WBA and IBF overturn the decision, but a rematch was negotiated — reluctantly by Golden Boy.
The positive drug test gives Golden Boy the opening to turn back the hands of time and wipe out the existence of Dec. 10, 2011, in Washington D.C. It disappeared inside a specimen cup.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
