WBC Rules Avni Yildirim Did Not Knowingly Take Banned Substance, Still In Line For 168-Pound Title

Avni Yildirim’s status as the mandatory challenger to David Benavidez’s WBC super middleweight title remains intact after the WBC finished its investigation into a failed drug test Yildirim had weeks ago. 

Back in early October, VADA and the WBC announced that a drug test Yildirim took showed an adverse analytical finding for the presence of DHCMT/methylclostebol. The drug test took place on September 13 and VADA reported the adverse finding to the WBC on September 26.

After weeks of investigating, the WBC concluded that Yildirim’s adverse finding came as a result of him being exposed to a substance during muscular inflammation therapy he received in Germany. It was also ruled that Yildirim will be fined for the positive drug test but still remain the mandatory challenger for the WBC title.

Below is the full statement from the WBC:

The World Boxing Council has closed its Clean Boxing Program’s Results Management process concerning Avni Yildirim’s adverse finding related to a recent out-of-competition anti-doping test. That process included a thorough scientific investigation and evaluation, with the participation of independent experts.

That investigation and subsequent evaluation concluded that Mr. Yildirim did not ingest or became exposed to a banned substance knowledgeably or with a performance enhancement intention. Instead, Mr. Yildirim unintentionally and inadvertently became exposed to a substance as part of a muscular inflammation therapy he received in Germany which was fully confirmed during the investigation. Credible evidence was presented that the source of the banned substance was a specific contaminated product that was administered to Mr. Yildirim.

Mr. Yildirim and the WBC have entered into an adjudication agreement that includes a strict, long-term testing program, a fine, participation in a CBP awareness program and controls concerning any substance to which Mr. Yildirim might be exposed in the future.

Accordingly, the WBC hereby confirms that Mr. Yildirim will be allowed to participate in the mandatory bout for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship against WBC World Champion David Benavidez.

As far as when a fight between Benavidez and Yildirim would take place, that has yet to be determined as that bout hasn’t been officially ordered.