Saturday 17 December 2016 11:55, UK
Alexander Povetkin’s heavyweight clash with Bermane Stiverne on Saturday has been called off after the Russian failed a doping test.
Povetkin (30-1-KO22) had been scheduled to face the Canadian for the WBC interim title in Ekaterinburg, Russia on a Fight Night International programme on Sky Sports 4 HD which has now been cancelled.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said 37-year-old Povetkin had tested positive for banned muscle-building substance ostarine.
"They found ostarine in 'Sasha'," promoter Andrei Ryabinsky confirmed on Twitter. "It's not clear where it came from."
Povetkin also failed a doping test back in May ahead of a clash with WBC champion Deontay Wilder with his team revealing he had previously been taking meldonium, the controversial substance added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list in January.
He had been cleared to face Stiverne after confirmation that his use of meldonium had occurred before it was added to the list of banned substances.
Stiverne (25-2-1-KO21) said in a statement: "There's no reason to fight if the WBC won't sanction the bout, I'm very disappointed in the actions of Povetkin. I've been training for months to be victorious.
"To wake up the day of the fight, have breakfast, take a nap and wake up to find out he tested positive is the worst possible situation.
"I'm headed back home to Las Vegas, hopefully the WBC will install me as the mandatory challenger to face Deontay Wilder. I want the opportunity to fight for the world title again, that was my whole reason to come to Russia was to earn that opportunity."
