Canelo Alvarez just got slapped with a 6-month suspension for his failed steroids test that he blamed on tainted meat ... the Nevada Athletic Commission just announced at a hearing in Vegas.
Canelo's May 5 rematch with Gennady Golovkin has already been scrapped ... but, this opens the door for Alvarez vs. Golovkin 2 to happen in September -- a time frame GGG previously told TMZ Sports he's gunnin' for.
The commission only took minutes to deliberate on Alvarez's case ... ultimately giving him a pretty lenient suspension, noting he's been "cooperative with investigators.