Hands of Plaster

The hand wrappings confiscated from former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito minutes before his title defense against Shane Mosley in January contained calcium and sulfur, two primary elements in plaster of Paris, according to a California Department of Justice laboratory report obtained by The Times on Thursday.

Hardened gauze pads inserted inside the wrappings around Margarito's knuckle area were seized Jan. 24 after Mosley's trainer Nazim Richardson objected to their use.

Margarito lost his title in a ninth-round technical knockout by Mosley, and the California State Athletic Commission subsequently revoked the licenses of Margarito, and his trainer Javier Capetillo, for one year.

"The commission's decision appears to be supported by that report," said Karen Chappelle, the state deputy attorney general for licensing. "The only things that are allowed in hand wraps are gauze and tape and those items aren't gauze and tape."

Bob Arum, Margarito's promoter, had no immediate response to the findings, saying, "I'd have to see [the report]."

lance.pugmire@latimes.com