By Igor Lazorin, tass

Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, promoter for Alexander Povetkin, assured all of the fans in Russia that the upcoming fight with Bermane Stiverne will not be canceled. They have ever intention of pushing forward with the fight.

The contracts are signed for December 17th in Ekaterinburg - with the WBC interim-heavyweight title at stake. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

As previously reported, the World Boxing Council announced on Monday that Stiverne had tested positive for a banned substance. The drug testing sample was taken on November 4th.

On November 11, 2016 VADA notified the WBC that Stiverne’s anti-doping test yielded an adverse finding for the banned substance methylhexaneamine (also known as dimethyamylamine or “DMAA”). DMAA is sold currently as a dietary supplement and as an ingredient is various energy preparations. 

Because of safety concerns, DMAA has been temporarily removed from military stores in the US.  Its use has been linked to several reports of serious, life-threatening side effects which appears to be the main reason why the World Anti-Doping Agency added DMAA to its prohibited substances list in 2010.

Due to the fact that this is the first doping case for 38-year-old Canadian, the organization decided not to impose immediate sanctions. However, the boxer was fined $75,000 as part of the WBC's Clean Boxing Program.

"The fight will not be canceled. Stiverne was found with a low concentration of a banned substance, and he, according to the sanctions, will be fined. Regarding the fight itself, we are not going to cancel," Ryabinsky said.

For Povetkin, this time the shoe is on the other foot.

Povetkin was initially scheduled to face Wilder in May. The fight fell out when Povetkin tested positive for banned substance meldonium. The WBC completed an investigation and decided not to apply a suspension or fine on Povetkin. There is however an ongoing legal battle over the canceled event, with Wilder and his handlers filing a case against Povetkin and his promoter seeking damages for breach of contract. There is also a breach of contract counter-suit, with Ryabinsky and Povetkin going after Wilder and his team.

Stiverne is the only fighter to last the twelve round distance with Wilder, who knocked out 36 of his 37 opponents. Wilder captured the WBC title from Stiverne in January of 2015 in a mandatory fight in Las Vegas. 

Stiverne has been inactive since last November, when he got off the floor to win a decision over Derric Rossy. Povetkin has also been inactive since last November, when he stopped Mariusz Wach in the twelfth and final round.