Nigerian born British Boxer, Lawrence Okolie has failed a doping test before his heavyweight fight against Tony Yoka.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which returned an adverse finding following the test conducted ahead of the show in Paris, fight promoter, Queensberry revealed.
The 33-year-old Okolie had been scheduled to fight Frenchman Yoka, a 2016 Olympic champion, in Paris on Saturday, 25 April.
However, VADA said it would provide an update on whether the fight will go ahead “in due course”.
Former world champion Okolie said he hoped “sense prevails” as he explained the failed test came after treatment for an injury.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp,” Okolie said in a statement posted on social media.
“I had a treatment on it and now we are here. I truly hope sense prevails.
“I will of course be fully co-operating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name.”
Okolie won world titles at cruiserweight and bridgerweight before moving up to heavyweight in 2024.
He is undefeated in three heavyweight fights and stopped Ebenezer Tetteh last December in his most recent outing.
