WILDER RAPS: DRUG CHEATS IN BOXING ARE MURDERERS

Champ blasts danger of cheating in fight game but didn’t know that Fury had failed a dope test

DEONTAY WILDER branded boxing’s drug cheats “murderers” – and then admitted he had no idea Tyson Fury had failed a test.

Fury tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in 2015 and was slapped with a backdated two-year ban last December.

The Brit blamed the abnormal result on eating uncastrated wild boar and his lengthy legal battle almost bankrupted UK Antidoping.

Less than 12 months later Fury, who also tested positive for cocaine in 2016, will challenge Wilder for his heavyweight world title in Los Angeles on Saturday.

And the champion said: “I didn’t know that Fury had failed a test. But it doesn’t bother me. If these guys want to put that stuff in their bodies, then let them.

“They’re the real murderers. When you put something into your body that allows it to enhance something it doesn’t normally do, then you’ll hurt somebody.

“What you should all be doing is criticising them, not criticising someone who’s got natural power and who does things naturally.

“How can a guy who cheats get more praise than me, a man who knocks guys out?

“When he fights it’s the biggest fight in the world – they forget about all the other things that occurred beforehand.”

The 33-year-old American, who fought Audley Harrison on British soil five years ago, has had two previous defences of his world title postponed after his opponents failed drugs test.

Alexander Povetkin, who went seven rounds with Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September, tested positive for meldonium in 2016, and Luis Ortiz failed a test the following year.

The Cuban did get his shot at Wilder six months later and went close to causing an upset before being knocked out in the 10th round.

Wilder said the pool of talent in the heavyweight division is so shallow that he would run out of opponents if drug cheats were banned for life.

Wilder, who in January was ordered to carry out 60 hours of community service after he was found guilty of misdemeanour marijuana possession, added: “Look at Ortiz. In my mind I was fighting a machine, that’s what I had in my head.

“There are a hell of a lot of guys still doing drugs. But, because the heavyweight division is so short, there are not enough fighters out there.

“You have to take what you can because boxing is a small window.

“I trust in myself, I do it right and I stick with that.”

BT Sport Box Office will exclusively show Wilder v Fury on Saturday, available to buy for just £19.95, find out more at www.bt.com/sportboxoffice

PAD’S ALL FOLKS Wilder goes through his training routine