
DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711050491

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER  

                                            LENGTH:   78 lines

WHITAKER TEST RESULT: COCAINE BOXER DENIES USING DRUG, LIKELY TO APPEAL; IMPACT ON CAREER UNCERTAIN

Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's urine test taken before his fight in Connecticut 19 days ago showed traces of cocaine, his promoter said Tuesday.

Whitaker, reached at his home, disputed the finding.

``I can tell you one thing: it's not true,'' Whitaker said. ``That's all I've got to say.''

The Whitaker camp learned Friday that Whitaker had tested positive for a banned substance, but didn't receive written notification from the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming and Athletic Commission or learn what the substance was until Tuesday. The welterweight fight at Foxwoods Resort Casino between Whitaker and Andrei Pestriaev was Oct. 17.

Main Events president Dino Duva, Whitaker's promoter, said further information and documentation must be obtained and then the test result likely will be appealed. Whitaker may also request a hearing.

``There's a multi-step process we have to go through step-by-step,'' Duva said. ``We're probably going to ask for a second test to be administered.''

Duva said if the positive test result stands it would be detrimental to Whitaker's boxing future, but not devastating. Duva said a positive test should not prevent him from putting together a marquee matchup for Whitaker in the spring. Whitaker has said he will fight probably one more time, at the most twice.

``If it proves to be true it's more of a step back for Pernell personally,'' Duva said. ``HBO has told me if this proves to be positive they'd like to see Pernell take care of it on a personal level, but they're not going to desert Pernell.''

The suspension is for 30 days, pending the appeal process. Duva and Main Events lawyer Pat English said Tuesday they were unclear what all the ramifications were for Whitaker because they do not have a copy of the rules from the Mashantucket Pequot Commission, which regulates boxing on the Indian reservation where the fight took place. It's unclear whether Whitaker's victory by decision could be overturned or if the suspension could be extended beyond 30 days.

English said it could take a couple of weeks to gather all the documents needed - such as the chain of custody records on the urine sample, specific test results and the lab report - to file an appeal.

``It's not unusual for an initial drug test not to prove out to be true for one reason or another,'' English said. ``We'll be slow and deliberate and get to the bottom of it.''

Under the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996, a suspension from one boxing commission is automatically upheld by all other commissions.

Virginia boxing commissioner Doug Beavers of Portsmouth said he does not know of an instance where the outcome of a fight was overturned because of a drug test. He said the fight usually is declared no contest and is struck from both fighters' records.

HBO Sports vice president Lou DiBella expressed disappointment Tuesday. Whitaker has fought on HBO more than any boxer in the cable network's history since they first hooked up in 1990.

``It's an upsetting story for me; I hope it's not true,'' DiBella said. ``We're concerned for his well-being right now, that takes precedent over his career. If it's true he has a problem, hopefully he'll address it and fix it.''

Whitaker co-trainer/conditioning coach Bob Wareing was dumbfounded to hear the fighter tested positive for cocaine.

``That seems absurd to me,'' Wareing said. ``How could he be doing cocaine before a fight? He was in training camp. What is he doing, going to nightclubs while I'm sleeping or something? I'm completely at a loss.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker took the test before defeating Andrei

Pestriaev on Oct. 17 in Connecticut.

Graphic

WHAT'S NEXT:

Whitaker likely will appeal the test result and might request a

hearing.

If the test result stands, Whitaker's victory over Andrei

Pestriaev probably will be declared ``no contest'' and stricken from

both fighters' records.