LAS VEGAS -- Former World Boxing Association (WBA) super-welterweight champion Fernando Vargas, who lost his title to Oscar de la Hoya in Las Vegas earlier this month, has tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

Marc Ratner, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said on Friday that a post-fight urinalysis had come back positive for stanozolol.

A complaint is expected to be filed on Monday or Tuesday and Vargas will have 30 days to have his case heard by the commission. There is no minimum or maximum penalty for testing positive.

The 24-year-old, who has won 22 of his 24 fights, appeared bigger and stronger than fellow American De la Hoya at the Mandalay Bay resort two weeks ago, but absorbed several punches without retaliation and lost when he suffered a technical knockout in the 11th round.

Vargas stormed out of the ring without talking to reporters and was treated at a local hospital, Reuters reported.

His other defeat came against former champion Felix Trinidad in December 2000. He won two fights before meeting De la Hoya, a bout he had wanted for several years.

De la Hoya's victory unified the WBA and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles.