Sam Soliman has received a nine-month ban. Picture: Chris Scott
Source: Herald Sun
SAM Soliman has declared that German officials will be left "embarrassed" after banning him for nine months for allegedly failing a drug test after his win over Felix Sturm.
The Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer (the association of German professional boxers) issued Soliman with the ban, although so far there has been no action or comment from the IBF, who sanctioned the fight against Sturm in Germany in February.
Soliman won in a close decision and became the No.1 contender for Daniel Geale's championship belt, but the BDB yesterday ruled the result a no-contest due to the test, which suggests Soliman tested positive to methylsynephrine.
Soliman was consulting lawyers last night, but told The Daily Telegraph: "In my career, I've thrived on fitness and health and dieting and getting everything 100 per cent perfect for my fights, and inspiring children and adults alike who watch and enjoy the sport.
"For them to come out with allegations that try to burn that, it will end up giving them a bad name more so than me. Because when the truth comes out, they are going to be feeling very embarrassed."
Soliman said he repeatedly pushed for comprehensive drug testing prior to the fight, which Team Sturm resisted, and revealed he did not even eat food prepared by them at a press conference, such was his lack of trust.
Soliman supposedly tested positive, but immediately demanded his B sample be tested at another clinic.
Team Sturm yesterday said the B sample they had tested at the same clinic proved Soliman had doped.
"They wanted NADA/WADA testing and now they want the substances on their banned list to be disregarded," Team Sturm said yesterday in a press release.