The former 154-pound boxing champion was suspended for nine months and fined $100,000 US by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday after testing positive for steroids following his Sept. 14 loss to Oscar De La Hoya.
A post-fight urinalysis came back positive for stanozol. That's the same drug that cost sprinter Ben Johnson his 100-metre gold medal and world record at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Vargas took responsibility for the positive test, although he claimed he had no knowledge of ever taking the drug.
Fernando Vargas has been suspended nine months for a positive steroid test. (AP Photo)
"I'm a man. I take full responsibility,'' Vargas said.
"The only thing is the layoff is definitely going to be hard.''
Nevada state athletic commissioners agreed that it's likely Vargas didn't knowingly take the steroid. But they said he needed to be penalized for the positive test.
"We like Mr. Vargas but we feel like this is the right thing to do,'' commission Chairman Luther Mack said.
Vargas said he hired a nutritionist in the weeks leading up to his superfight with De La Hoya. He took a number of different nutritional supplements and vitamins without questioning the contents.
But Vargas did not place the blame on the nutritionist -- who is no longer with his team -- or on anyone else in his camp.
"I don't place blame on anyone except myself,'' he said. "At the end of the day I'm the captain of my ship.''
Vargas' suspension is retroactive to his Sept. fight with De La Hoya. He is eligible to return to the ring June 15.
Nevada just began testing boxers for steroids this year.
