Margarito banned for one year over 'loaded' gloves

The former WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo have had their boxing licences revoked for one year by the California State Athletic Commission.

The bans stem from Capetillo putting a plaster-like substance under Margarito's hand wraps before his bout against Shane Mosley on 24 January. The pads, confiscated last week, still are being tested by the commission, but they voted 7-0 to revoke both Margarito and Capetillo's licences.

Capetillo testified that he accidentally put the pads in Margarito's gloves. "I don't want this young man to have his problems," Capetillo said. "I take full responsibility. I committed this innocent mistake."

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) inspector Che Guevara testified that the pad inside Margarito's hand wraps was "not hard as a rock, but firm and hard."

Under the ruling, both the fighter and trainer will able to apply for license reinstatement in one year, but in the meantime will not be able to participate in boxing in the state of California or any other US jurisdiction that upholds the CSAC's decision.

Margarito was pummeled throughout against Mosley, and lost his title after a ninth-round technical knockout. Before that fight, he knocked out Miguel Cotto in one of the best fights of 2008. Margarito, one of a long line of tough Mexican fighters, owns a record of 37-6 with 27 knockouts.

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