Former welterweight champion Shane Mosley has decided to drop his $12 million dollar defamation lawsuit against BALCO founder Victor Conte. Mosley filed the lawsuit in 2008, after Conte made public statements claiming Mosley knowingly injected himself with the steroid known as The Clear before his 2003 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley has vehemently denied intentionally using the drug, stating under federal oath that he believed it to be vitamins. The boxer’s name, along with several other high-profile athletes like Barry Bonds and Marion Jones, became known to the public following a 2003 raid of BALCO’s California offices.
According to the NY Daily News, the case was dismissed voluntarily by Mosley in New York State Supreme Court. The move was done “with prejudice and without costs,” meaning Mosley will not be able to retry the case in the future.
Since Mosley’s urine and blood samples were thrown out by Nevada state boxing commission shortly after the De La Hoya rematch, Shane Mosley has never been fined or suspended for his admitted steroid use.
In May, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather became the first fighters to submit themselves to random, Olympic style drug testing preceding their bout. Both men passed all tests.
At press time, Shane Mosley is rumored to be leaving Golden Boy for opportunities to face Top Rank fighters Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
***************************************************************************
I always thought Mosley filing this lawsuit was more of an emotional response from feeling embarrassed. It was frivolous and a bad idea from the start. Why bring more attention to an issue like this?
I believe most professional athletes are on steroids. Not really because they want to be, but because they feel it’s the only way to level the playing field with everyone else doing it. You can really understand that pressure in boxing, where unfortunately just one loss can set your career back several years.
I’ve spoken with Shane Mosley numerous times. He’s very well-mannered and polite. Even so, I have a hard time thinking any professional athlete would be dense enough to believe that you’d have to inject yourself to receive vitamins. Ain’t no vitamins in the world that require syringes.
Earlier this year, I stated the drug testing Mayweather asked for, despite his personal reasoning, would be a great thing overall for the sport. Much of the attention has died down recently, but I hope in 2011 boxing commissions seriously look at implementing the USADA’s (United States Anti-Doping Agency) policies.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 