By Ruslan Chikov
An agreement is very close to being reached between unified champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KOs), and mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KOs), as it relates to the agency handling the Olympic style drug testing for both boxers.
Klitschko wanted to use NADA [Nationale Anti Doping Agentur], based in Germany - while Povetkin's side wanted to use RUSADA [Russian Anti-Doping Agency], which the Klitschko side rejected. Both NADA and RUSADA are affiliated with WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency].
The fight is scheduled for October 5th in Moscow.
Older brother Vitali Klitschko discussed their reasoning for demanding NADA - "I really fear that there may be some kind of manipulation. Hence it is very important for us to carry out this contest under control of the German commission. They have our full confidence."
Russian businessman Andrei Ryabinsky, who is staging the show with promoter Vladimi Hryunov, says there is nothing to worry about as it relates to drug testing. Hryunov won the WBA's purse bid with a massive $23 million dollar figure, and Klitschko stands to receive $17 million dollars of that amount.
"Our biggest request has been agreed upon, the fight is taking place in Moscow. We have reached a preliminary agreement [on the drug testing]. Klitschko's side wants to have the doping tests under NADA, a German organization. Our side wants RUSADA to handle them. But we are very calm about this situation. Under certain conditions it is possible that NADA will control handling of the doping tests. Right now these conditions are being discussed and I will not disclose details," Ryabinsky said.