By Ben Carey
Doncaster’s Andy Bell has been suspended for six months after testing positive for cannabis following his British super-flyweight title loss to Lee Haskins in November.
A statement published by the British Boxing Board of Control said:
Boxer Andy Bell produced a positive dope test following his unsuccessful defence for the British Super Flyweight Championship against Lee Haskins on 7th November 2008.
In accordance with Regulation 8(A)(i)-(iv) this case was dealt with by Sports Resolution (UK) and in turn by the National Anti Doping Panel.
A hearing was held in London on 8th January 2009 and the decision of the National Anti Doping Panel made on the 13th January 2009 was that Boxer Andy Bell was guilty of taking a banned substance being Cannabinoids (Cannabis), which led to the positive dope test.
The penalty imposed by the National Anti Doping Panel is that Mr. Bell’s licence be suspended for six (6) months from the 27th November 2008 until 26th May 2009.
The ban will rule Bell out of his Commonwealth super-flyweight title challenge to Don Broadshurst which was scheduled to take place in Birmingham on February 28.
