By Igor Lazorin, tass
The doping scandal surrounding Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin was "a provocation," said Mikhail Degtyaryov, a lawmaker who heads the Russian lower chamber’s sports committee.
"The provocation against Povetkin exposed the fragility and weakness of the anti-doping system," he said late Tuesday, adding that Russian athletes have been subject to "double standards, frame-ups and attacks."
"We are going to fight and defend the interests of our athletes," the lawmaker added.
On December 17, Povetkin beat France’s Johann Duhaupas. The non-title ten-round fight held in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg ended with Povetkin’s win by a sixth round knockout.
Povetkin was originally scheduled to meet Canada’s Bermane Stiverne for the interim WBC heavyweight title but the fight was canceled after Povetkin’s A-sample, from a drug test dated December 6, proved to hold small amounts of Ostarine. The tests taken on December 13 and 15 were clean.
The World Boxing Council said that a probe into Povetkin’s case is ongoing and he can be suspended if found guilty. The B-sample was opened in Los Angeles on February 1 and the outcome will be known soon.
Ostarine is a SARM substance, which athletes use during training. It builds up endurance, like anabolic steroids. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) put SARM substances on its prohibited items list in 2008.
It was the second failed to test for Povetkin, who tested positive in the lead-up to his May 2016 fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder. The fight was cancelled.