Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte CANCELLED after ‘adverse finding’ by anti-doping
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association said it had informed the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that a “random anti-doping protocol” undertaken by Whyte had returned the adverse findings, leading to the bout being called off and an investigation being launched.
The fight had been due to take place at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, August 12.
Fight promoter Matchroom said in a statement: “Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
“In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled and a full investigation will be conducted.”
Previously, the pair had fought in the amateur ranks before Joshua won gold at the 2012 London Olympic games.
As professionals, they competed for the heavyweight title in 2015 which Joshua won with a seventh-round knockout. A rematch was announced in early July after talks over Joshua taking on Tyson Fury broke down while the former world champion had also been linked with a fight against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
White had a doping violation dropped in 2019 after it was found that the levels of a banned steroid were “very low” and he was not at fault.
