By Igor Lazorin, tass
According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, the latest PED investigation into Alexander Povetkin (31-1-0, 23 KO’s) will be completed by early 2017.
Early Saturday morning, Sulaiman revealed that Povetkin had tested positive for a banned substance. The sample was taken on December 6th by drug testing agency VADA.
Povetkin was scheduled to face Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KO’s) on Saturday night at the Ekaterinburg Expo Center in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Stiverne refused to go forward with the fight after the WBC refused to sanction the contest as a final world title eliminator.
After Stiverne withdrew, a deal was reached with Johann Duhaupas (34-4, 21KOs) - who was knocked out by Povetkin in the sixth round.
Sulaiman announced on the social networks that Povetkin tested positive for ostarine, which is the same substance that Lucian Bute tested positive for in the aftermath of his draw against Badou Jack on April 30 at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C.
Back in May,Povetkin was scheduled to fight WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, but a few days before the fight was going to take place - it became known that Povetkin had tested positive for meldonium. Povetkin admitted to taking the drug last year, when it was still legal. The drug was officially listed as a "banned substance" in January of this year.
The WBC conducted a very long investigation, and they cleared Povetkin and approved him to take part in this eliminator with Stiverne. This time around Povetkin is going to face a very long suspension by the WBC if the sanctioning body finds him guilty of intentionally doping.
While the investigation stemming from the Wilder contest took several months, Sulaiman is not planning to take as much time for the recent infraction.
"We have launched an investigation, but right now there is very little time remaining before the new year and there will be a lot of holidays. We will complete the investigation in early 2017," Sulaiman said.
