Pre-Fight Drug Test Reveals Robert Helenius’ Positive Result Prior to Match Against Anthony Joshua
Startling information has emerged regarding heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius, Anthony Joshua’s most recent opponent. It has come to light that Helenius failed a pre-fight drug test conducted before his scheduled heavyweight match with former world champion Anthony Joshua.
The Finnish fighter stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Dillian Whyte, who himself had failed a drug test the weekend before the planned match at The O2 on August 12. Dillian Whyte expressed his shock and devastation upon learning about the outcome and intends to challenge the result.
Matchroom Boxing, the promotional team for Joshua, has officially confirmed that Helenius “returned an adverse analytical finding.” This discovery was made through a voluntary test conducted on August 11. The revelation of the adverse finding was conveyed to Matchroom Boxing on August 25, thirteen days after the fight.
A statement from Matchroom Boxing conveyed, “Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has informed Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Control that Robert Helenius has returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a random anti-doping protocol. Helenius 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 (Friday).”
The statement continued, “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.”
Despite Helenius’ positive test result, Anthony Joshua managed to knock out his opponent in the seventh round, paving the way for a potential match against Deontay Wilder in the future.