BOXER Dillian Whyte status as the WBC’s interim world heavyweight champion has been provisionally suspended after he tested positive for a banned substance.
He tested positive on July 20, three days before he beat Colombian Oscar Rivas.
The 31-year-old Briton will be allowed to present his case to the WBC.
He has been number one ranked with the WBC for more than 600 days, behind American champion Deontay Wilder to whom he is the mandatory challenger.
He was cleared to take part in the fight with Rivas which he won on points after attending an independent panel hearing.
In a statement on Tuesday, the WBC said: “An ‘A’ sample Ukad collected from Mr Dillian Whyte in relation with his bout against Oscar Rivas yielded an adverse finding.
“In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, the WBC is provisionally suspending the WBC’s recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger of the division.
“The WBC has notified Mr Whyte and his team of the WBC’s suspension, and that it will afford Mr Whyte the opportunity to present its position to the WBC at an investigative hearing which will take place at a place and time to be announced in the near future.
“Throughout its investigation and hearing, the WBC will afford Mr Whyte and his team the opportunity to present any available information and materials, and any exculpatory evidence they might deem appropriate.”
