Dillian Whyte On Failed Drug Test: “I Was Cleared To Fight And I Won That Fight Fair And Square”

Dillian Whyte and Eddie Hearn comment on Whyte’s reported failed drug test before his fight against Oscar Rivas.

The current interim WBC heavyweight champion took to Twitter to talk about his frustrations with what has been said in the past few days.

I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me over the last few days.
I have lawyers dealing with it and I have been told that I can’t talk about it for good legal reasons.
I was cleared to fight and I won that fight fair and square.

Thanks for the support

— Dillian Whyte (@DillianWhyte) July 26, 2019

Hearn, who is Whyte’s promoter, briefly spoke about the issue in an interview with iFL TV Whyte had a hearing with the British Boxing Board of Control before the July 20 bout to address his positive test and was eventually cleared to fight. Hearn said that, “Knowing what I know, I don’t believe there’s an issue with Whyte in this situation.”

On July 24, it was revealed in a report from Boxing Scene that an “A” sample from Whyte turned out positive for an illegal substance. The report stated that the positive test result was administered by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD), not from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

Further to reports I can confirm that both Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas were subject to extensive VADA and UKAD testing for their bout. Both fighters were cleared to fight by both bodies and the BBBofC

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) July 24, 2019

Rivas’ promoter Yvon Michel confirmed the initial report on Twitter in which it was said that Rivas and his camp were unaware that Whyte even failed a drug test.

It is with great stupefaction we have learned yesterday, on @boxingscene, the news about the testing result of @DillianWhyte, before the @WBCBoxing title against our @OscarKaboom. Up to this moment nobody on the concerned parties have confirmed or denied to us this information.

— Yvon Michel (@yvonmichelGYM) July 25, 2019

Whyte managed to overcome a late knockdown scored by Rivas to win the interim WBC heavyweight title by unanimous decision on July 20. The fight, which took place as the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card at The O2 Arena in London, also served as a final eliminator where the winner became the mandatory challenger to Deontay Wilder’s full WBC title.