The WBC on Tuesday withdrew, at least temporarily, recognition of Dillian Whyte as its interim heavyweight world titleholder because of his recent positive drug test.
Despite having failed a pre-fight drug test, British regulators allowed Whyte to fight last Saturday in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card at the O2 Arena in London, where he survived a ninth-round knockdown and won a unanimous decision — 116-111, 115-112, 115-112 — over Oscar Rivas to claim the WBC’s vacant interim heavyweight title.
During the week of the fight, the results of a random test conducted June 17 by United Kingdom Anti-Doping, which oversees drug testing in the United Kingdom, came back positive for the banned steroid dianabol in his A sample. The results of Whyte’s B sample have on yet been returned.
When UKAD found out about the positive test, it acted quickly and convened a hearing to discuss the matter with Whyte and his representatives, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN last week. For reasons that were not made clear, however, UKAD cleared Whyte and the British Boxing Board of Control allowed the fight to proceed.
Rivas’ team was not notified of the failed test, which it took issue with when it learned about it through media reports.
Whyte (26-1, 18 KOs), 31, of England, and Rivas (26-1, 18 KOs), 32, a Colombia native fighting out of Montreal, also were also being randomly tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for the bout, which Whyte has insisted on for several fights. None of those tests were positive, including samples taken June 15, which is why the WBC, which works closely with VADA on its mandatory Clean Boxing Program, was also not informed of the positive UKAD test.
Now that the WBC knows about the failed pre-fight UKAD test, it has taken action.
“An A sample UKAD collected from Mr. Dillian Whyte in relation with his bout against Oscar Rivas yielded an adverse finding,” the WBC said in a statement Tuesday. “In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, the WBC is provisionally suspending the WBC’s recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger of the division.
“The WBC has notified Mr. Whyte and his team of the WBC’s suspension, and that it will afford Mr. Whyte the opportunity to present its position to the WBC at an investigative hearing which will take place at a place and time to be announced in the near future. Throughout its investigation and hearing, the WBC will afford Mr. Whyte and his team the opportunity to present any available information and materials, and any exculpatory evidence they might deem appropriate.”
Whyte’s only public comments on the situation came Friday via social media.
“I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me over the last few days,” Whyte wrote. “I have lawyers dealing with it and I have been told that I can’t talk about it for good legal reasons. I was cleared to fight and I won that fight fair and square.”
Hearn could not be reached for comment. UKAD has declined to comment.
In 2012, Whyte tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine following his ninth professional fight and was suspended for two years, even though UKAD accepted his explanation that the banned substance entered his system as a result of his taking an over-the-counter nutritional supplement.