Frank Warren has admitted that the episode surrounding Lawrence Okolie’s failed drug test is “a very, very big disappointment”, after the British heavyweight’s fight with Tony Yoka collapsed on short notice.
Okolie was due to face France’s Yoka in Paris last Saturday, but the fight fell through on Tuesday, when it emerged that Okolie had returned an adverse drug-test result.
Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, which was organising the fight, shared the news, which they said had come from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Okolie took to social media to offer a statement, with the former cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion saying: “Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp.
“I had a treatment on it and now we are here. I truly hope sense prevails.
“I will of course be fully cooperating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name. I won’t be making any further comment at this time. Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
On Thursday, Warren said on a call with The Independent and other outlets: “It’s a very, very big disappointment. I mean, [I’m] very disappointed with that, but it is what it is.
“It will have to take its course when UKAD [UK Anti-Doping] and the [British Boxing] Board of Control call for the hearing, and they’ll have to go through the procedure.
“He’ll eventually… I’m sure he’ll present his B sample, and then depending on the outcome of that… If it matches the A sample, then he’s gonna have to give an explanation.”
That is the standard procedure in most cases, and it will have to play out before Okolie competes again.
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The 33-year-old last fought in December, stopping Ebenezer Tetteh in the second round in Nigeria, as he continued his heavyweight venture.
Okolie (23-1, 17 KOs) is 3-0 at heavyweight, after his lone bridgerweight fight saw him win the division’s WBC title, following a run as WBO cruiserweight champion.
Okolie’s cruiserweight-title reign was ended by his former training partner Chris Billam-Smith in 2023, in the sole defeat of Okolie’s professional career so far.
