Report: Antonio Tarver failed drug test for Cunningham fight

According to a report at Sports Illustrated, former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver failed a drug test for his fight with Steve Cunningham in August, testing positive for a banned substance prior to the bout on both the "A" and "B" samples.

If so, this would be the second failed drug test for Tarver, 46, in the last three years. He also failed a test when he drew with Lateef Kayode in 2012 in a cruiserweight bout. Now fighting as a heavyweight, he also drew with Cunningham on August 14 in Newark, a show televised under the Premier Boxing Champions banner on Spike.

Tarver (31-6-1, 22 KO) was suspended for one year by the California commission in 2012, and he could face stiffer consequences this time if New Jersey takes action, too. Tarver also wound up losing his job as a Showtime commentator after failing the test in 2012. He currently works as a commentator for Spike.

Cunningham tweeted to Tarver regarding the report earlier:

@AntonioTarver I publicly apologized for my words to you on the telephone press conference now I await your public apology.

— Steve Cunningham (@usscunningham) October 19, 2015

Amendment: The testing results on the blood taken from Tarver and Cunningham came back after the fight had been completed. The fight did not go forward with knowledge of a failed drug test.