Recently crowned world heavyweight champion Lucas Browne has been stripped of his World Boxing Association title and banned until September after testing positive for clenbuterol.
Browne, 37, became the first ever Australian to hold a world heavyweight title after knocking out Ruslan Chagaev in the 10th round on March 5.
The Australian’s B-sample tested positive for clenbuterol – a drug used in weight-stripping and often found in meat products – despite a test showing he was clean just days before the fight.
Since the news that Browne’s test came back positive, the fighter and his team have insisted that he is clean.
“I didn’t take anything,” Browne told the Courier Mail earlier. “I made sure of it. We were actually the ones who demanded independent testers. I made sure that I had nothing at all in my system.
“I was taking pre-workout drinks long before the fight but nothing illegal and I made sure that I had stopped taking them long before we went to Chechnya.
“I had a random blood and urine test five days before the fight and there was absolutely nothing in my system. Why would I then take clenbuterol which is going to make my heart go triple speed and make me tremble and stuff before a 12-round world title fight?”
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Browne’s manager Matt Clark said that the news was only the “first round” and that his team’s Miami-based lawyer would be fighting the ban.
“We hope the decision will be overturned,” he said. “But it’s now a legal fight and it’s just the start.’’
The title will not return to Chagaev after he announced his retirement following the fight. But if the Uzbekistani decides to change his mind, he has 120 days to negotiate a fight with Fres Oquendo, who is entitled to a title fight after a court order in the United States.
If Chagaev decides to stay in retirement, Cuban Luis Ortiz and Russian Alexander Ustinov would fight for the vacant regular heavyweight title, and then will face a mandatory bout against Oquendo.
The B-sample was analysed by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Big J
Guest
He only got a four month suspension, which is a training camp, so just suck it up try an appeal train for your next fight and win the title back legit. I have no doubt that he'll fight again and win back the title
Razza
Guest
It goes to show that you would question everything, even if your grandmother made it, bad luck, but the rules are the rules and goodluck in the appeal. He is a big mean looking bloke and i would not like to be within 50 feet of him when told of the stripping.