MANILA, Philippines -- Both Nonito Donaire and John Riel Casimero will undergo random drug testing in the lead-up to their bantamweight title unification bout on August 14.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) announced on Sunday that both fighters have enrolled in VADA testing for the bout, after a week of back-and-forth on social media.
At stake in the fight is Donaire's WBC bantamweight belt, which he won off France's Nordine Oubaali last month, as well as Casimero's WBO title.
Casimero was originally set to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux on August 14, but the Cuban boxer reportedly agreed to step aside to let the all-Filipino showdown happen. Rigondeaux is expected to fight whoever wins the Donaire-Casimero bout.
However, the match appeared to be in danger of getting called off last week, as the Donaire camp insisted on VADA testing.
Rachel Donaire, who trains and manages her husband, made her frustrations known on Twitter after the Casimero camp took too long in fulfilling the requirements for the VADA testing.
Even after VADA's announcement, Rachel Donaire said on Twitter that "nothing has been submitted." She also implied that their camp is willing to walk away from the bout if the VADA testing is not enforced.
Casimero has a six-fight winning streak heading into the Donaire bout, including a third round stoppage of Duke Micah in September 2020 where he successfully defended his WBO title.
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boxing, Nonito Donaire, John Riel Casimero, Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, VADA, anti-doping, random drug testing, bantamweight