Wednesday 23 March 2016 14:57, UK
WBA regular heavyweight champion Lucas Browne has vehemently denied reports of doping and will do all he can to clear his name.
ESPN reported on Monday that the Australian returned a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol in the wake of his stoppage of Ruslan Chagaev in Chechnya earlier this month.
Browne's early reaction to the report was to take legal advice, but later on Tuesday the 31-year-old issued a statement denying drug use and suggesting the report was "ridiculous".
"I would like to assure all my fans, the whole of the boxing world and all of Australia that I am not a drug user or a drug cheat," Browne said.
"The news of this positive test has shocked and devastated me, and I will be fighting for as long as it takes to clear my name.
"Prior to today I had not heard of the drug clenbuterol and had no idea what it was used for. I am now aware it is essentially a weight-stripping drug, and as a heavyweight boxer the idea of me using it is utterly ridiculous. I am a staunch long-time opponent of any drug use, performance-enhancing or otherwise.
"My team and I were well aware of the many risks involved in going to a place like Chechnya to fight a reigning champion, and believed we had taken sufficient precautions. In addition it was at our insistence that the VADA testing was implemented for the fight."
A statement from management team Hatton Promotions said: "Ricky Hatton and Hatton Promotions were made aware on Monday night that Lucas Browne delivered a positive A sample drug test following his world title win over Ruslan Chagaev.
"We believe strongly that boxing should be free from performance enhancing drugs. We believe Lucas Browne to be a clean athlete who arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete.
"We are therefore conducting our own further investigation and cannot comment further at this time."
