DATE: Thursday, November 6, 1997            TAG: 9711060653

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

DELAY IN GETTING TEST RESULTS PUZZLES WHITAKER CAMP IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE AN APPEAL CAN BE FILED.

It's likely to take a couple of weeks for Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker's representatives to sort through the documents regarding his failed drug test and file an expected appeal.

Why it took almost two weeks for results of the drug test to come back is baffling to the Whitaker camp and Virginia's boxing commissioner.

``In my experience, it is unusual,'' said Main Events lawyer Pat English. Main Events is Whitaker's promotional organization.

Whitaker received written notification Tuesday by the Mashantucket Pequot Gaming and Athletic Commission that the fighter tested positive for cocaine. The fight in Connecticut was Oct. 17, but the letter notifying Whitaker of the failed drug test was dated Oct. 27.

However, he had not received it as of Tuesday - 18 days after the fight took place - but English was finally able to obtain a copy of the letter via fax.

``The one question I would have is why did it take so long to get the result back?'' said Virginia boxing commissioner Doug Beavers. ``That's flunky there, it's not normal. Two or three days is plenty of time to do a drug screening.''

Beavers, the Virginia commissioner since 1981, said he has known Whitaker since the six-time world champion began boxing as a youth in Norfolk.

``This is awful far-fetched for me to believe,'' Beavers said. ``It's not like it's a secret that they test. Pete's not a dumb guy. Stuff like this, at this stage of his career, could ruin it. I hate to see this happen.''

There have been whispers in boxing circles in recent years about Whitaker's on-the-edge lifestyle. He's never made a secret of his taste for alcohol but emphatically denied he used any illegal drugs.

``He's been boxing professionally for 13 years and he's had drug tests at almost every fight he's had,'' said Dino Duva, Whitaker's promoter. ``I don't put too much stock in the rumors.''

Neither does Pete Joyner. Joyner has known Whitaker since both lived in Young Park public housing in Norfolk. He describes himself as Whitaker's best friend, is the godfather to the youngest of Whitaker's four sons and does public relations work for the fighter.

Joyner said he knows Whitaker as well as anyone, and has never seen evidence of drug use.

``If it's true, and I'm hoping that it's not, we would still be the same friends we've always been,'' Joyner said. ``We'd be together trying to win this fight just like we've tried to win all the others for 13 years.''

English and Duva were both scheduled to travel to Las Vegas Wednesday for this weekend's Evander Holyfield-Michael Moorer heavyweight title fight. They are attempting to obtain further documents surrounding the drug test before making their next move.

``I'd be surprised if I do anything on this until next week,'' English said.

Whitaker has been suspended for 30 days, although it's unclear whether that suspension could be extended after an appeal or hearing. English said if it remains a 30-day suspension, in a practical sense that doesn't hurt Whitaker because he does not plan to fight again until the spring.

So is it worth filing an appeal?

``Chances are, yes, as a matter of principle,'' English said. ``We will get to the bottom of everything. Sometimes there are errors, it's that simple.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Traces of cocaine were found drug Pernell Whitaker's drug test. KEYWORDS: COCAINE

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