By Josh Alper
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The U.S. Boxing team may have to head to Beijing without one of its best hopes at a medal. Sadam Ali
tested positive for cathine, banned by the IOC, while in China for a recent bout and is awaiting the results of his backup sample. The test was conducted in December and Ali was placed on "voluntary" suspension pending the second test.
Several boxers suffered from flu-like symptoms during the trip to China and were given over-the-counter medication by team doctors, only Ali tested positive. Cathine is extracted from khat, a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Khat is a major part of Yemeni life. 60% of the men there are believed to chew it for its narcotic effects. Ali is from Brooklyn, but his parents are Yemeni. Khat leaves must be fresh to have the stimulating effect, however, and there's other ways that cathine can be produced. Small amounts can be found when the human body metabolizes pseudophedrine, which is used in most decongestants. Ali, of course, used such decongestants while in China. The lightweight has retained a lawyer to represent him if an appeal of the drug test is necessary.
Interestingly, Ali is not the only boxing related client of Salvatore Strazzullo. He is also representing Milana Dravnel, the stripper who was responsible for leaking photos of
Oscar De La Hoya in lingerie and is now suing the boxer for defamation.
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