*Big-time promoter Bob Arum says “He claims he didn’t know,” when asked about ‘Big Baby’ Jarrell Miller’s drug use. Arum refers to the news that Miller was caught using cardarine, among other performance-enhancing drugs. It was during this time that Miller prepared to challenge Anthony Joshua, a fight scheduled for June 1, 2019.
The disqualification cost Miller heavily as he forfeited a potential $6 million for the fight. The heavyweight also left the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles behind. The only excuse Miller could offer was saying:
“I messed up a big opportunity and I’m hurting on the inside. My heart is bleeding right now – I hurt my family, my friends, my team, my supporters.”
“But,” he continues, “ I’m owning up to it. I’m going to deal with it… correct it… I’m going to come back better and I’m humbled by the experience.”
Caught Using Cardarine
However, Miller appealed to one of the most important promoters- Hall-of-Famer Bob Arum. Last month, Arum’s company Top Rank Inc. decided to sign Miller to a multi-fight agreement. Arum responded to criticism of the decision at a press conference held the night of the Wilder-Fury rematch:
“The way you address it, and I believe this, he claims that he didn’t know what was going into his system,” he said. “And I’m sort of inclined to believe it. I mean, they get these street guys to train them and so forth. We’re gonna put him with a top nutritionist and he’s only gonna eat and abide by what the nutritionist tells him. Otherwise, I can’t promote him.”
Apparently, the quick conversation with Miller managed to convince Arum that it was all a misunderstanding.
“Again, I’m telling you just what he told me,” he said. “ And it seems like it’s valid. Now, how could you not know? If a doctor or somebody gave me drugs to take because of illness or so forth, I wouldn’t know what I was putting in my system. I really wouldn’t.”
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association confirmed Miller tested positive for a total of 3 banned drugs. One of the drugs, Cardarine, also known as GW501516, is a popular fat-burning and muscle-recovery agent. The other two substances were erythropoietin, or EPO, and human growth hormone.
Close Call for Miller
These findings didn’t suspend Miller because he never received his license in New York. Thus, the New York Athletic Commission couldn’t take any action. However, Bob Arum said that despite no formal suspension, Miller did take a year off from fighting. “What we made sure is in effect he served a suspension,” he said.
Arum also didn’t provide details on the heavyweight’s next fight.
“We’re gonna see how good he is and then we’re gonna put him in good,” he continued. “ And then, we have all these heavyweights. He can fight some of our heavyweights, some of Eddie Hearn’s heavyweights or Frank Warren’s heavyweights. And people wanna see heavyweights.”
Even after Big Baby Miller was caught using a banned substance called cardarine, the fighter has a future with Bob Arum.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
