
via Getty
DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 07: Dillian Whyte reacts to victory over Mariusz Wach after the Heavyweight fight between Dillian Whyte and Mariusz Wach during the Matchroom Boxing ‘Clash on the Dunes’ show at the Diriyah Season on December 07, 2019 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

via Getty
DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 07: Dillian Whyte reacts to victory over Mariusz Wach after the Heavyweight fight between Dillian Whyte and Mariusz Wach during the Matchroom Boxing ‘Clash on the Dunes’ show at the Diriyah Season on December 07, 2019 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Tonight, Anthony Joshua will be fighting Robert Helenius in a fight that is not what most folks anticipated. It is rather a compensation for the fight that was supposed to happen between AJ and his long-standing rival Dillian Whyte. The fight which would have been the second edition of their pro-boxing clash stood canceled after Whyte’s VADA drug reports came positive for doping. As a result, there needed to be an alternative fighter to be found for AJ. However, as the event will go on today as planned, the boxing fraternity is coming down hard on Whyte for doping.
Doping has been an omnipresent problem in boxing circles which many fighters have spoken out against. The use of performance-enhancing drugs is illegal and highly frowned upon in the industry. And recently, a two-time former featherweight champion Warrington took a sly dig at Dillian Whyte alluding to his doping scandal.
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A scathing attack on Dillian Whyte amid doping allegations
Featherweight boxer Josh Warrington took his Instagram story to show a container that seemed to look like samples of his urine test to determine the presence of PEDs in his body. Such tests are taken by athletes and fighters in order to prove that they are not using any such drugs. He said that it was that time wherein he had to undertake the test. As he did that, he took the opportunity to take some lethal shots at Dillian Whyte.
BREAKING! Anthony Joshua & Dillian Whyte's rematch has been cancelled after Dillian Whyte returned 'adverse analytical findings' in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test. pic.twitter.com/jQzmHrhii0
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 5, 2023
Without mentioning the heavyweight boxer’s name, Josh said, “Somebody in boxing has just failed a test + Fight date = Let’s go test Warrington (again)”. Of course a direct reference to Whyte and the fight he missed against Anthony Joshua.
AJ breaks his silence on the fight with Whyte collapsing
As he was given an opponent that he did not think he would be fighting anytime soon, AJ gave his verdict on the collapse of his fight against his old rival. He said to BBC Sports that boxing does grapple heavily with the problem of doping. He said, “I don’t know how they’re going to sort it out or what their solution is to this problem. But it clearly has a problem.”

via Imago
25.06.2016. The O2, London, England. IBF World Heavyweight Championship. Anthony Joshua versus Dominic Breazeale. Joshua won by knock out on the 7th round xJasonxHearnx PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxSWExNORxDENxFINxONLY ActionPlus11754726
25 06 2016 The O2 London England IBF World Heavyweight Championship Anthony Joshua versus Dominic Breazeale Joshua Won by Knock out ON The 7th Round xJasonxHearnx PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxSWExNORxDENxFINxONLY
This is not the first time in 12 months that the ethics of boxing have been questioned. The last time a boxer was in the news for doping was when Conor Benn failed two voluntary drug tests. Both Benn and Whyte, who are currently sailing in the same rocky boat have protested the allegations.
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The future of Whyte in boxing remains uncertain. But this development should nudge stakeholders to take the issue of doping seriously.
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What do you think of the allegations leveled at Dillian Whyte? Let us know in the comments section below.
Watch This Story: Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius Stats: Record, Height, Reach, Age, and Knockout Ratio
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