BY TIM PARSONS
Alexander Povetkin is drug free, according to reports of his latest test.
WBC challenger, Alexander Povetkin has declared that new drug test results prove he is drug free. The Russian contender, who was due to face American WBC champion, Deontey Wilder for his title on May 21 just gone, had the fight canceled after drug tests revealed traces of Melodnium in his system.
A statement from his Promoters states: “The new doping test of the Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin, taken May 17, 2016, showed no traces of Meldonium. This was reported today by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) with reference to the results of analyses conducted by the laboratory in Los Angeles.
“The sample taken a week earlier also lacked traces of Meldonium. Thus, only one of Povetkin’s six samples revealed extremely low concentrations of the prohibited drug.
“The new result proves that the positive sample in April was a residual effect of Mildronat taken last year. If the drug was taken in the period between April 11 and 27, traces would also have been found in the latest tests.”
A further statement from one of Andrey Ryabinsky’s social media outlets added: “Got new official tests on Povetkin. They’re clean now. Opponent (Wilder) and some journalists will be apologising to us. And pay.
Povetkin was criticized by many sections of the boxing press, following the news of his positive testing. Pardon for the news outlets is probably necessary here as the press could only go by the news available at the time. Drug use is the cancer of many sports, and most unwelcome in boxing. If an error or misinterpretation was made by the doping agency, then this is not something the press can be blamed for. Instead, we will wait for the fight to be rescheduled to another date.
Wilder is unbeaten in 33 fights, with 32 of his wins coming by KO. Hw will be expected to win this fight conclusively, but it is a fight that may well test him as Povetkin has only been beaten by Wladimir Klitschko on points.
Pic By Przemek Garczarczyk