Lawrence Okolie fails drug test, Queensberry cancels entire Tony Yoka card
Britain's Okolie, the WBC’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight, tested positive for the banned human growth hormone stimulator GHRP 2 and its M8 metabolite ahead of Saturday's fight.
Lawrence Okolie has failed an anti-doping test ahead of Saturday's fight with Frenchman Tony Yoka. Britain's Okolie, the WBC’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight, was scheduled to travel to Paris, France, to take on local star Yoka, but news broke Tuesday that Okolie returned an adverse analytical finding in a drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Okolie's adverse finding was reportedly for the banned human growth hormone stimulator GHRP 2 and its M8 metabolite. Okolie said in a statement: "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. " Queensberry Promotions, the promoter of Okolie and the event, announced that Okolie’s fight with Yoka has been canceled, and so has the entire April 25 show. Okolie formerly held the WBO cruiserweight title from 2021 until he lost it to Chris Billam-Smith in May 2023.