Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez has been handed a reduced penalty for doping violations, potentially allowing him to return to the ring in September for a rematch with Gennady Golovkin.
Alvarez was given a six-month suspension instead of the standard one year for first-time violators.
His May 5 fight with Golovkin was called off earlier because of the doping, but with the Nevada Athletic Commission suspension retroactive to February he would be available for a possible fight with "Triple G" on the traditional Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.
Kazakhstani Golovkin, meanwhile, announced on Wednesday he would fight Vanes Martirosyan in Carson, California, on the May 5 date he was supposed to meet Alvarez.
Alvarez was not present at the meeting.
"I hope he's learned a lesson, that he is responsible with what he puts in his body," commission Chairman Anthony Marnell said.
"And I hope to see him fighting in Nevada soon. If he follows the agreement as it's laid out then he would be able to come back and fight like any other fighter."
Alvarez was supposed to face Golovkin for his unified middleweight title next month at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the fight was called off after the commission issued a complaint against Alvarez for testing positive to the banned performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico.
The fight would have been a rematch of their bout last September, where Alvarez earned a controversial draw in a fight many thought Golovkin had clearly won.
Alvarez blamed contaminated beef in Mexico for his positive test and vowed to plead his case before the commission.
But with Alvarez suspended there was too little time between the hearing and the fight do promoters decided to cancel the bout.
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