British boxer Lawrence Okolie has failed a doping take a look at earlier than his heavyweight battle towards Tony Yoka.
The 33-year-old is scheduled to battle Frenchman Yoka, a 2016 Olympic champion, in Paris on Saturday, 25 April.
Battle promoter Queensberry mentioned it was instructed on Monday night time by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Affiliation (Vada) that Okolie “returned an antagonistic discovering following an anti-doping take a look at performed forward of the present in Paris this Saturday”.
It mentioned it might present an replace on whether or not the battle will go forward “in the end”.
Former world champion Okolie mentioned he hoped “sense prevails” as he defined the failed take a look at got here after remedy for an damage.
“Earlier than anybody begins imagining the worst, following my bicep damage final 12 months, I sustained an elbow damage on the identical arm throughout this camp,” Okolie mentioned in a press release posted on social media.
“I had a remedy on it and now we’re right here. I really hope sense prevails.
“I’ll after all be totally co-operating with all related authorities and I am assured any investigation will clear my identify.”
Okolie received world titles at cruiserweight and bridgerweight earlier than transferring as much as heavyweight in 2024.
He’s undefeated in three heavyweight fights and stopped Ebenezer Tetteh final December in his most up-to-date outing.
