Dillian Whyte Reinstated As Interim WBC Heavyweight Champion
Dillian Whyte’s status as the interim WBC heavyweight champion has been resolved but his goal of fighting for the full title in 2020 might not be accomplished.
Just days after the UK Anti-Doping Agency cleared Whyte of any wrongdoing after testing positive for a banned substance in June. The failed drug test came from June and was only revealed shortly after Whyte defeated Oscar Rivas to win the interim title. The WBC initially ruled that Whyte’s standing as the interim titleholder was suspended until the UKAD finished their investigation into the matter. It was then revealed over the weekend that Whyte will not be suspended as it concluded that Whyte did not knowingly take any banned substances.
Whyte ended up fighting on the December 7 Matchroom Boxing card from Saudi Arabia as part of the undercard for Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2. On that card, Whyte scored a 10-round decision victory over Mariusz Wach.
In regards to him wanting to challenge for the WBC heavyweight title in 2020, unfortunately for him, the WBC ruling also indicated that he will be named the mandatory challenger for February 2021. The reason for this is that the WBC had already approved a fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, set for February 2020 as a mandatory title defense for Wilder.
WBC STATUS OF DILLIAN WHYTE – UPDATE
On July 20, 2019, Dillian Whyte defeated Oscar Rivas conquering the WBC Interim Heavyweight World Championship. A few days later, a news report made public that an out-of-competition urine sample collected by UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) on June 20, 2019 from Dillian Whyte had yielded an adverse finding. In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, on July 30, 2019, the WBC provisionally suspended its recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion and Mandatory Challenger of the division.
On December 6, 2019, UKAD made a public announcement withdrawing its charge against Dillian Whyte.
Based on limited but detailed research and information gathering, including the WBC’s consultation with two independent experts, the WBC found that there was no sufficient or conclusive evidence that Whyte intentionally, or even knowingly, ingested a banned substance with the purpose of enhancing his performance in any fashion. In light of the WBC’s own finding and of UKAD’s withdrawal of the claim against Mr. Whyte, the WBC has closed its internal investigation.
The WBC is hereby lifting its provisional suspension and confirming its recognition of Mr. Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion.
Consistent with the WBC Board of Governors’ Ruling at last October’s 57th WBC Annual Convention, Interim Champion Whyte shall become the Mandatory Challenger of the division immediately after Champion Deontay Wilder’s mandatory defense against current Mandatory Challenger Tyson Fury, with the mandatory defense against Whyte being due on or about February of 2021.
