Boxer Guthrie Gets Another Shot at Seoul

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. —  An arbitrator ruled Wednesday that middleweight William Guthrie of St. Louis, barred from the Olympic box-off because of a positive drug test, must be allowed the opportunity to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team.

Following the ruling by Neal Bernstein of the American Arbitration Assn., amateur boxing officials said that Guthrie will fight Anthony Hembrick, the Olympic trials winner, tonight at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Should Guthrie win that bout, the two will fight again Friday afternoon.

Should Guthrie win both fights, he would replace Hembrick on the Olympic team.

Guthrie was one of three fighters barred because of positive drug tests. Lavell Finger wasn’t in shape and decided against taking his disqualification to arbitration, and Eric Griffin didn’t appeal his disqualification.