Antonio Tarver: I'm Not a Cheater ... 'I Was Framed'

Boxer Antonio Tarver says he was SET UP -- claiming he never used banned substances for his August '15 fight with Steve Cunningham ... and claims he's the victim in a diabolical frame job.

Tarver was suspended 6 months by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for testing positive for a synthetic testosterone.

Now, in a video statement from Tarver ... the 47-year-old is calling BS on the positive test -- saying he took several other tests that same week and passed with flying colors.

In fact, Tarver says only the test administered by a company hired by the fight promoter tested positive -- and Tarver says he was set up because he's adamant he never took a PED.

Tarver says he's asked to have his dirty sample sent to an independent lab to be tested -- but his requests have been ignored.

"I'm here to tell you today that I did nothing wrong," Tarver said ... "It's a frame job."