(DEC 22) WBAN has received an open letter from Mary Ortega who is addressing rumors about her taking Steroids, and about her boxing suspension from Nevada.

Mary Ortega:  "Roid" Rage!

Well where should I start? First of all I hear there are some people who keep saying I’m on steroids, I won’t mention any names but I am not, and I’ll do a million pee tests to prove it.  I took a water pill, granted an obviously dumb idea, but being that time of the month and with some added personal stress, I wanted to make sure I got rid of some of the water weight I was holding. So I’m not going to sit here and make excuses, what’s done is done, and unfortunately I missed out on a wonderful opportunity to go to Germany.

 

Which brings me to the next thing, Halmich’s team was perfectly aware of what my tests results were, we were completely honest about that, so maybe due to translation problems, she said I was "doping" such as in steroids I assume, I’m hoping she didn’t mean that. I also hope that when my suspension is up, she will give me the chance to fight her, I think it would make an excellent and exciting fight, and one I will train hard for to make sure I win.

 

I also would like to make sure Elena [Reid] knows I didn’t do steroids either, she’s really the only one whose feelings matter in this situation.   Elena you are a great fighter and that was a truly great fight, I would never disrespect you or any fighter by taking steroids, so any time you’d like to go at it again, just let me know. 

 

So for the other women boxers out there, my decision, though dumb, was mine to make, and so I take the consequences that goes along with them, but not at any time was I trying to get over on another female boxer, just trying to counter act what my body was doing at the time. Good luck to everyone and their fights in the New Year and I wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas.  Sincerely,  Mary E. Ortega