Saturday, July 20, 2024 -Finnish professional boxer, Robert Helenius has been handed a two-year ban from boxing over his positive drug test following last year's fight against Anthony Joshua.
The 40-year-old heavyweight, who was
39 at the time of the AJ fight, tested positive for clomifene after being
knocked out at London's O2 Arena in August 2023.
Clomifene is banned because it can be used
to boost testosterone levels in men.
Helenius attempted to plead his
innocence by claiming that the clomifene in his system must have originated
from his consumption of eggs and chicken meat.
However, a statement issued by UK
Anti-Doping on Friday, said that 'Mr Helenius was unable to provide any
evidence that the eggs and chicken meat he had consumed in advance of the bout
originated from hens that had been administered clomifene.
'Mr Helenius was therefore unable to
identify the source of clomifene in his Sample and therefore unable to reduce
the applicable period of Ineligibility of two years.'
The ban will be valid for two years from
September 18, when Helenius was provisionally suspended.
He will therefore be permitted to return to
the sport after midnight on September 17 in 2025.
Helenius responded to Friday's verdict by
publishing a statement of his own.
It read: 'I want to say
something very clear in my own words right now with absolutely no exception. I
did not use any performance enhancement now or ever. I have been tested my
entire career.
'I was just told that I tested positive for
the presence of a non-steroid substance in my system and I wanted to send an
immediate direct message to Anthony Joshua and boxing fans that I didn't cheat
and never would.
I volunteer to work with VADA and the
BBBofC to do whatever it takes to clear my name.'
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