WBC reinstates Britain's Whyte as interim heavyweight champion

in #zzan5 years ago

British heavyweight Dillian Whyte has been reinstated as WBC interim champion and will get a mandatory shot at the title as of now held by Deontay Wilder, the WBC said on Wednesday.

The decision comes five days after the UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD) pulled back a charge against the 31-year-old Whyte for a doping violation and follows a WBC investigation.

"Considering the WBC's own finding and of UKAD's withdrawal of the claim against Mr. Whyte, the WBC has closed its internal investigation," the WBC said in a statement https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-status-of-dillian-whyte-update.

The WBC said it found no sufficient or conclusive proof that Whyte intentionally took a banned substance with the aim of enhancing his performance.

"The WBC is therefore lifting its provisional suspension and confirming its recognition of Mr Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion," the statement added.

Whyte won the title on July 20 by beating Colombian Oscar Rivas however the WBC provisionally suspended recognition of his status as interim champion 10 days later over an irregular pee sample he had given out-of-competition in June.

UKAD had charged Whyte for a doping violation as his sample before the battle "indicated the presence of two metabolites of a steroid" however on Friday it cleared him of any bad behavior.

The agency said there was nothing in Whyte's "longitudinal urinary profile" to suggest he used steroids.

More out of control is set for a rematch with mandatory challenger Briton Tyson Fury in February after their last clash finished in a draw.

Whyte will become the mandatory challenger after that battle, with the occupant WBC champion to face Whyte by February 2021.