ALEXANDER POVETKIN FAILS ANOTHER DRUG TEST
Moscow, Russia (December 17th, 2016)– A banned substance was found in Alexander Povetkin’s system again.
Povetkin was set to fight Bermane Stiverne for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title Saturday in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
However, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced that a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association collection revealed the performance-enhancing substance Ostarine in Povetkin’s sample 20 hours before the bout was set to take place.
The WBC withdrew recognition from the fight, but the bout still wasn’t officially scrapped at this time.
Povetkin tested positive for meldonium ahead of a scheduled May bout with champion Deontay Wilder, cancelling that fight.
Wilder ended up suing Povetkin for damages, and the Russian counter-sued.
Povetkin, 36, wasn’t suspended, but he was ordered to undergo extra testing at his own expenses for 12 months, and another adverse result would force an immediate suspension.
Stiverne, too, tested positive for a PED ahead of the bout — dimethyamylamine.
However, with the substance ingested on Nov. 4, the WBC ruled the fight could go on with a $75,000 fine handed down to the Haitian.
Now, the heavyweight tilt featuring top-10 contenders is in serious jeopardy once again.
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