Heavyweight boxer banned for 2-yrs

Finnish boxer, Robert Helenius, who has been pro­visionally suspended since August 2023 pending the outcome of his case, was handed a two-year ban by the UK Anti-Dop­ing Agency (UKAD) on Friday after failing a post-fight drug test against Anthony Joshua.

Helenius tested positive for the banned substance clomifene after the heavyweight bout at the O2 Arena in London last Au­gust. Joshua won in front of his home crowd. The 40-year-old was knocked out in the seventh round by Joshua.

Helenius denied using perfor­mance-enhancing drugs. Accord­ing to UKAD, he claimed that the presence of clomifene in his urine sample was due to the consump­tion of contaminated eggs and chicken.

However, a statement from UKAD read: “Mr Helenius was unable to provide evidence that the eggs and chicken he consumed prior to the fight were from hens that had been given clomifene, following a request from UKAD.”

Clomifene, a female fertility drug, can be used to boost testos­terone levels in men and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Helenius, nicknamed ‘The Nor­dic Nightmare’, was a last-minute replacement for Joshua’s original opponent, Dillian Whyte, who tested positive for a banned sub­stance.

Helenius saved the event by preventing the fight from being cancelled after Whyte’s sudden withdrawal.—Insidethegames.biz