Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte’s extremely anticipated second combat has been cancelled after Whyte returned “adverse analytical findings” throughout a random anti-doping take a look at, based on promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association mentioned it had knowledgeable the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control {that a} “random anti-doping protocol” undertaken by Whyte had returned the consequence, resulting in the bout being known as off and an investigation being launched.
Matchroom mentioned in a press release on Saturday: “Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
“In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled, and a full investigation will be conducted. Further information on the event will follow.”
The combat had been because of happen at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday 12 August. Joshua may nonetheless combat on the evening if a brand new opponent is present in time.
The British heavyweight rivals have fought one another twice previously, with Joshua knocking out Whyte in 2015, after the latter beat “AJ” through the pair’s beginner careers.
Joshua, 33, and Whyte, 35, had been each set to enter the combat on the again of determination wins over Jermaine Franklin. AJ outpointed the American in April, after Whyte did the identical in November.
Those outcomes marked much-needed wins for each Britons; by beating Franklin, Joshua bounced again from two straight losses to Oleksandr Usyk, whereas Whyte was defeated by Tyson Fury in his earlier combat.