By: Sean Crose
First it was Dillian Whyte. Then it was Alicia Baumgardner. And now heavyweight contender Robert Helenius has failed a drug check, one which he took earlier than his excessive profile battle two weeks in the past in opposition to Anthony Joshua. “At the moment,” Matchroom Promotions – the power behind the Helenius versus Joshua bout – said by way of press launch, “the Voluntary Anti-Doping Affiliation (VADA) has knowledgeable Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Management that Robert Helenius has returned an adversarial analytical discovering as a part of a random anti-doping protocol.”
The assertion then went on to say that the check was voluntarily taken by Helenius on the eleventh of August, the day earlier than the Joshua battle. “The consequence,” the assertion continued, “was made identified to Matchroom in the present day.” Suffice it to say the banned substance(s) in Helenius’ system didn’t assist him within the ring in opposition to Joshua, for the towering Englishman lay his Finnish opponent out within the opening spherical of the bout.
“Matchroom defers to the related regulatory authorities on subsequent steps,” the assertion went on to learn. “We vehemently proceed to assist voluntary anti-doping testing. We’re dedicated to selling a clear and truthful sport for all athletes.” And with that, Matchroom basically washed its arms of the affair. “We is not going to be making any additional remark,” the assertion concluded.
The irony of the state of affairs, in fact, was that Helenius was a final second substitute for Whyte, who couldn’t face Joshua himself due to his personal failed drug check. “In Finland,” Helenius stated of failed drug testing earlier than squaring off in opposition to Joshua, “if I might be caught I might be lynched for my complete life. Two yr minimal, nothing. I might by no means get a license once more.” Speak about phrases coming again to hang-out you.
On high of all else, this newest excessive profile drug check snafu comes a few week after it was introduced that undisputed light-weight titlist Baumgardner had failed a drug check of her personal. The reality is that Helenius will probably deny any wrongdoing, as Baumgardner did, and, in equity, neither fighter could have consciously cheated. In a sport like boxing, nonetheless, individuals can get severely damage and even die. Regardless of the motive could also be, a fighter who fails a drug check ought to maybe should face the results with out exception – for the results of treating such issues frivolously could be extreme certainly.
Moreover, boxing typically has sufficient of a foul status as it’s.
