I’d rather lose than dope, says Joshua

ANTHONY JOSHUA believes he would have been banned from boxing for life had he failed drugs tests like the Russian with whom he must share a ring at Wembley Stadium on September 22. Alexander Povetkin, the upcoming challenger for Joshua’s world heavyweight titles, tested positive for steroids twice in 2016 and was fined and suspended indefinitely by the WBC. The ban has since been lifted and Povetkin came to London yesterday to pose for pictures on the Wembley turf with Joshua, who said his career would be finished if he was ever caught doping. Joshua said: ‘If I missed a test or was even an hour late for one, people would say, “Oh, he must be doping”. I know they would make an example of me and I would never be able to box again. I would rather take a loss than be caught doping.’