Mexican professional boxer José Félix Soto receives five-year ban for Anti-Doping Rule Violations

ADRV
2025

Professional boxer José Félix Soto has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for five years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of Prohibited Substances. 

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected urine Samples from Mr Félix, In-Competition, after his bout against Lewis Crocker at Ulster Hall in Belfast. Analysis of the Samples returned Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for multiple metabolites of metandienone and stanozolol, anabolic steroids that are non-Specified Substances and prohibited at all times in sport. 

UKAD notified Mr Félix that he may have committed ADRVs for the Presence and Use of Prohibited Substances and imposed a Provisional Suspension on him. In response, Mr Félix asserted that the AAFs were caused by the ingestion of medication that he had been prescribed to treat an achilles injury and provided UKAD with a copy of a prescription from a doctor which listed “Stanozolol 10 mg” and “Metandiestenalona 10mg”, among other medications.  

UKAD invited Mr Félix to submit an application for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules. Mr Felix failed to provide the required medical information (for the purposes of considering a retroactive TUE application). UKAD therefore proceeded to charge Mr Félix with both ADRVs and asserted that a five-year period of Ineligibility should apply. In UKAD’s assessment, there were ‘Aggravating Circumstances’ (namely, the Presence and Use of two anabolic steroids) which justified an increase to the standard period of Ineligibility that would otherwise apply.  

Mr Félix admitted the ADRVs charged and acceded to the five-year period of Ineligibility asserted by UKAD. 

Mr Félix’s five-year period of Ineligibility from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport is deemed to have commenced on 24 April 2024 (affording him credit for the Provisional Suspension served) and will expire at 11:59pm on 23 April 2029. 

 

Technical terms and more information   

Mr Félix was bound by the UK Anti-Doping Rules after being granted a foreign boxer license by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC). The BBBoC adopts the UK Anti-Doping Rules.  

Aggravating Circumstances are detailed in the UK Anti-Doping Rules, Article 10.4.  

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids are listed at Section S1.1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Analysis of Mr Félix’s Samples returned AAFs for the following: 

Metandienone metabolites: 

  1. 6β-Hydroxy-metandienone; 
  2. 17α-Methyl-5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol; 
  3. 17β-Methyl-5β-androst-1-ene-3α,17α-diol (Epimetendiol); 
  4. 17β-Hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-18-nor-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one; and 
  5. 17-epimetandienone. 

 Stanozolol metabolites: 

  1. Stanozolol-1’N-glucuronide;
  2. 3’-Hydroxy-stanozolol; and 
  3. 4β-Hydroxy-stanozolol.  

Please note, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, capitalised terms used in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the UK Anti-Doping Rules and/or World Anti-Doping Code.