1 month ago
The world heavyweight title contender Lawrence Okolie has pledged to “clear my name” aft a grounded a narcotics trial earlier his bout against Tony Yoka this weekend.
The British fighter, a erstwhile cruiserweight world champion who moved up to heavyweight, had been scheduled to look nan Frenchman successful Paris connected Saturday but that arena is now successful doubt. He is nan No 1-ranked contender by nan WBC, whose loop is held by Oleksandr Usyk.
In an announcement, nan promoter Queensberry wrote: “Last nighttime nan Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) informed Queensberry that Lawrence Okolie returned an adverse uncovering pursuing an anti-doping trial conducted up of nan show. A further update regarding nan arena will beryllium made it owed course.”
In a individual station connected Instagram, Okolie wrote: “Before anyone starts imagining nan worst, pursuing my bicep wounded past year, I sustained an elbow wounded connected nan aforesaid limb during this camp.
“I had a curen connected it and now present we are. I genuinely dream consciousness prevails. I will of people beryllium afloat co-operating pinch each nan applicable authorities and I’m assured immoderate investigation will clear my name.”
Okolie’s intended force Yoka took nan super-heavyweight golden badge astatine nan 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He served a one-year prohibition imposed by nan French anti-doping agency successful 2018 for failing to springiness a doping sample 3 times successful a one-year period.
