By WBC
The WBC, through its Clean Boxing Program, is continuing to evaluate the positive anti-doping result of Alexander Povetkin for the banned substance Meldonium. As the WBC previously reported, it granted WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder a voluntary defense while continuing to thoroughly weigh and gauge all related scientific and medical factors.
As part of its anti-doping results management, the WBC formed and convened an emergency review committee. The last phase of the WBC's anti-doping results management in the Povetkin case will be to afford Mr. Povetkin and his team the opportunity to present their position in the case and any factual, medical and/or scientific data they deem appropriate. Soon after that phase is completed, the WBC will be in the best position to make and announce its final ruling.
Wilder and Povetkin voluntarily agreed to the WBC Clean Boxing Program and be tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in connection with their postponed fight on May 21, 2016. On May 13, VADA reported to the WBC and to the fighters’ camps the results of an anti-doping test challenger Povetkin underwent from a sample collected on April 27, 2016.
VADA’s report stated that challenger Alexander Povetkin’s sample A showed an adverse result for the banned substance Meldonium. The WBC also received specific information from the World Anti Doping Agency about Meldonium.
The WBC’s priority is and will always be safety, fair play and justice . In order to continue to strive for the absolute safety of the boxers and for a just and fair outcome for all parties involved, the WBC is conducting an in-depth investigation of this matter.
