Former world champion Lawrence Okolie fails drug test days before fight and offers statement
Okolie is due to fight Tony Yoka in Paris this weekend, but the event is now up in the air
Lawrence Okolie has failed a drug test just days before his heavyweight clash with Tony Yoka, plunging the event into jeopardy. Briton Okolie is set to meet Frenchman Yoka in front of a partisan crowd in Paris this weekend , with “The Sauce” looking to push himself into the world-title picture. However, things have taken a turn after he returned an “adverse finding” in a drugs test in the lead-up to the fight.
Queensberry Promotions released a statement which read: “Last night, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) informed Queensberry that Lawrence Okolie had returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted ahead of the show in Paris on Saturday. Lawrence Okolie is a former world champion at cruiserweight (PA) “A further update regarding the event will be made in due course. ” The Independent has approached a representative of Okolie for comment, although the boxer himself offered an explanation on Instagram and said: “I won’t be making any further comment at this time.
” Okolie’s post read: “Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp. I had a treatment on it and now we are here. I truly hope sense prevails.
“I will of course be fully cooperating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name. “I won’t be making any further comment at this time. Thank you for all your support and see you soon.