Report: Jean Pascal passes multiple drug tests ahead of Fanlong fight

Jean Pascal might be clean for one fight.

Multiple sources have informed FightNights.com that the former light heavyweight titlist has passed multiple drug tests examining for performance-enhancing substances ahead of his scheduled 12-round bout against Meng Fanlong in a ProBox TV-streamed main event at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

We were also informed Pascal was also issued multiple "surprise" tests.

Less than a week before his scheduled rematch with Badou Jack in June 2021, Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KOs) tested positive for four banned substances, including drostanolone, drostanolone metabolite, epitrenbolone, and erythropoietin (EPO). As a result, the WBA stripped him of his status as WBA "regular" light heavyweight champion and suspended him for six months. Jack (23-3-3, 15 KOs) remained on the card, scoring a fourth-round TKO of replacement opponent Dervin Colina.

Pascal has continued to proclaim his innocence, although EPO can only be administered by injection. But nonetheless, Pascal appears to be in the clear for this fight. The 39-year-old posted a video on his Twitter page on May 10 of what appears to be a collector, who apparently tested Pascal at his gym, holding two bottles of urine samples that display his name, birthdate, the times the samples were collected—which were both 1:47 p.m.—and the proper number identifying which specimen was taken first.

For now - it appears all signs are a go for Saturday.

Pascal has not fought since edging out Jack in a split decision victory in December 2019 in Atlanta. The victory was considered mildly controversial at the time, until all hell broke loose leading up to the scrapped rematch. Jack was knocked down in the fourth round from a right hand, but rallied in the 12th round to drop Pascal behind a barrage of right hands. However, judges Barry Lindenman and Nelson Vazquez scored the fight 114-112 for Pascal, which overruled the 114-112 score Lederman turned in for Jack.

Now coming off a 28-month layoff and much embarrassment, it will be interesting to see how much Pascal has left in the tank.

Fanlong (17-0, 10 KOs), a 34-year-old southpaw from Chifeng, China, has been yearning for a significant fight since he made his professional debut in 2015. The 2012 Olympian has knocked out three out of his last five opponents. He last fought last October 29, when he outpointed Israel Duffus over 10 rounds in Florida.