Oscar Valdez's failed drug test implies that the sport's policies are all for show

Valdez failed his test for phentermine ahead of a scheduled Sept. 10 bout, but will still be allowed to compete

As a sport so historically linked with everything from disorganization to outright corruption, boxing has rarely been its best advocate from a public relations standpoint.   Look no further than the fallout of unbeaten WBC junior lightweight champion Oscar Valdez's positive test for the banned substance phentermine, which apparently won't keep him from defending his title against amateur rival Robson Conceicao (16-0, 8 KOs) in their Sept. 10 bout headlining a Top Rank on ESPN card from Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.   According to Thursday's report from ESPN's Mike Coppinger, the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Athletic Commission ruled Valdez (29-0, 23 KOs) will be allowed to proceed with the fight despite both his A- and B-sample tests, collected by the Volunteer Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) on Aug. 13, coming up dirty.