Whyte claims title win was fair despite doping claims

Briton’ s opponent reportedly not told of positive pre-fight reading

Dillian Whyte has broken his silence over the positive anti-doping test ahead of his recent bout against Oscar Rivas, saying he was cleared to fight and won it “fair and square”.

On Wednesday, the boxingscene.com website reported that “one or more banned substances” had been detected in Whyte’s A sample but neither Rivas nor the WBC was informed of the test.

The British heavyweight is understood to have returned the positive test, conducted by UK AntiDoping, three days before Saturday’s contest at The 02 in London, which Whyte won via a unanimous points verdict to claim the World Boxing Council’s interim title.

The 31-year-old Londoner, who served a two-year doping ban between 2012 and 2014, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday but has now issued a short statement on his Twitter feed.

“I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me over the last few days,” he wrote.

“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.”

It is understood his lawyers have asked boxingscene.com to remove the initial story and its subsequent reports, on the grounds they are defamatory and an invasion of privacy.

Neither UKAD nor the WBC has made any comment on the matter and the British Boxing Board of Control, the sport’s national governing body, has only issued a short statement to say UKAD handles its antidoping programme and it enforces any sanctions that may arise.

Whyte’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has commented, though, first via Twitter and then on television.

On Wednesday, Hearn wrote that both Whyte and his Colombian opponent were “subject to extensive testing” by UKAD and the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, the Nevada-based organisation used by the WBC. He added that “both fighters were cleared to fight by both bodies and the BBBofC”.

“I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said”

VICTORIOUS: Dillian Whyte failed a doping test prior to beating Oscar RIvas last week but promoter Eddie Hearn has said both boxers were cleared to fight