British boxer of Nigeria descent. Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight rematch against Dillian Whyte scheduled for next week Saturday at London’s O2 Arena has been cancelled after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ to a random doping test.
The future looks much less clear for Whyte, 35, following this episode, his third run-in with anti-doping authorities. In a statement he said he was ‘shocked and devastated’ by the positive test and vowed to ‘prove that I am completely innocent.’
Recall that Whyte served a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexanamine following a win over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh in October 2012.
However, boxing promoter is looking forward to securing the date with another worthy opponent for Joshua.
In 2019, he was charged by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) 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 The charge was later withdrawn due to the ‘extremely low’ levels of the metabolites.
“I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by Vada of adverse findings relating to me,” Whyte wrote in a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it.
“I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.
“I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life.
“I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.”
Whyte, who lost his only world title challenge to Tyson Fury in 2022, beat Joshua by decision as an amateur in 2009 to start what became a bitter rivalry.
Olympic gold medallist Joshua went on to become a two-time world champion.