THE high-profile heavyweight boxing rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte has been called off after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ during a random doping test.
The grudge match was scheduled for next Saturday at London’s O2 Arena with Whyte looking to avenge a 2015 loss to the former world champion.
Daily Mail reported that promoters Matchroom are hoping to find a new opponent to face the Nigerian-Briton Joshua at the same venue on the same date.
Incidentally, 35-year-old Whyte has now had his third incident with anti-doping authorities, although he insisted he is innocent, stating that he was ‘shocked and devastated’ by the positive test and vowing to ‘prove that I am completely innocent.’
Whyte served a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexanamine after a win over Sandor Balogh in October 2012.
Then in 2019, he was charged by UK Anti-Doping after a sample provided in June that year showed the presence of two metabolites of a banned steroid, Dianabol. The charge was later withdrawn due to the ‘extremely low’ levels of the metabolites.
“The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol,” Matchroom said today in a statement.
“In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled, and a full investigation will be conducted. Further information on the event will follow.”
The fight between 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion Joshua, 33, and Whyte, was set to be a rematch of their 2015 bout, a British title bout won by Joshua via a seventh round stoppage, which was the first loss of Whyte’s professional career after 16 straight wins.
They had previously fought as amateurs in 2009, Whyte winning on points to kick off a long and bitter rivalry.
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