Boxing: Heavyweights Browne, Povetkin Test Positive for Banned Substances

First, it was Lucas Browne on Thursday. Then, it was Alexander Povetkin on Friday. Both men are prominent heavyweights in the boxing world, and both have failed recent urinalyses for having traces of banned substances.

Browne (24-0 21 KOs) made history on March 5 by becoming the first Aussie to capture a heavyweight title when he stopped Ruslan Chagaev in the 10th round for the WBA version of the title. However, Browne’s win and title were in jeopardy when it was reported that his “A” urine sample, given to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), came back positive for Clenbuterol, a banned weight-reducing drug, after the fight.

No action was taken against Browne until VADA received analysis of his “B” sample. But, according to multiple reports on Thursday, the Australian’s second test came back virtually identical to the first. The WBA has stripped Browne of his title and suspended him for six months. Browne said his tests came back positive because he believes it was something he ate, stating that there was no need for a heavyweight to use drugs to help him lose weight.

Almost as soon as the coals cooled off from the Browne fiasco, Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) found himself in jeopardy of losing his world heavyweight title shot against Deontay Wilder on May 21. Both the champ and challenger agreed to the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program and were tested by VADA as well. On Friday, reports came out that Povetkin’s “A” sample urinalysis from April 27 came back positive for the banned substance Meldonium. According to information from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Meldonium is a metabolic modulator made famous when tennis star Maria Sharapova had it in her system.

The WBC is said to be in the midst of an in-depth investigation regarding the issue. There is no official word yet as to whether Povetkin will be removed from the card, but the Mexico-based sanctioning body will make a public announcement in the coming days.