ROBERT HELENIUS has followed Dillian Whyte and Alycia Baumgardner in becoming the latest fighter to test positive for a banned substance this month.
The Finnish heavyweight 32-5 (21) fought twice in seven days during August.
On August 5 he won by by third round TKO against Mika Mielonen before being brought in by Matchroom to replace Dillian Whyte and face Anthony Joshua one week later. Helenius was knocked out in spectacular fashion by the Brit in round seven at the O2 Arena.
Last night, Joshua’s promoters Matchroom Boxing released the following statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding Helenius.
“Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has informed Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Control that Robert Helenius has returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
“Helenius was voluntarily tested on Friday, 11 August before the heavyweight fighter’s defeat by Anthony Joshua in London on Saturday, 12 August. The result was made known to Matchroom today.
“Matchroom defers to the relevant regulatory authorities on next steps. We vehemently continue to support voluntary anti-doping testing. We are committed to promoting a clean and fair sport for all athletes.
“We will not be making any further comment.”
Helenius is yet to make any comment on the matter.
On August 5 a similar statement was released by Matchroom on X revealing that Joshua vs Whyte 2, scheduled for August 12, had been cancelled because Whyte returned “adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol”. The British heavyweight responded on social media denying he had done anything wrong.
Eleven days later another Matchroom statement was published on X this time involving their undisputed female featherweight champion Alyica Baumgardner. The 29-year-old American submitted a drug test prior to her rematch against Christina Linardatou on July 15 in Detroit which Baumgardner won on points.
It has been reported that Baumgardner tested positive for Mesterolone and Androsterone following a urine sample provided on July 12. In their statement Matchroom wrote they were “first informed of the result on August 12”. Just like Whyte, Baumgardner denies any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Matchroom welterweight Conor Benn could be set for a legal battle after UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control chose to challenge a decision by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel to remove Benn’s suspension from boxing. The Londoner tested positive for the banned substance Clomifene on two separate occasions last year.