Robert Helenius failed drugs test taken BEFORE he was KO'd by Anthony Joshua

25 August 2023 , 21:29

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Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round of their fight

Robert Helenius failed a drugs test just 24 hours before he was knocked out by Anthony Joshua.

Helenius had been drafted in to face Joshua at a week's notice after the former world champion's original opponent Dillian Whyte had also failed a test. Joshua started slowly against the Finn earlier this month and was booed by the home crowd before landing a brutal KO in the seventh round.

In a statement, Joshua's promoter Matchroom said: "Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) hos Informed Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Control that Robert Helenius has returned an adverse analytical finding as port of a random anti-doping protocol. Helenlus was voluntarily tested on Friday, August 11 before the heavyweight fighter's defeat by Anthony Joshua in London on Saturday, August 12.

"The result was made known to Matchroom today. Matchroom defers to the relevant regulatory authorities on next steps. We vehemently continue to support voluntary anti-doping testing. We are committed to promoting a clean and fair sport for all athletes. We will not be making any further comment."

Joshua had been due to meet Whyte in a rematch of their 2015 clash but his fellow Brit was forced to pull out after testing positive for an undisclosed substance. Whyte insists he is innocent and said: "I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me.

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"I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it. I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken. I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life.

"I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media." Whyte served a two-year drugs ban from 2012 to 2014 and was cleared of a doping violation in 2019 after UK Anti-Doping concluded the levels in his sample were “very low” and he was ultimately not to blame.

Martin Domin