By Kenneth Friedman: Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas both passed VADA conducted random tests pre-fight on July 17 and post-fight on July 21. Both heavyweights came up negative for performance enhancing drugs on the two testing dates by VADA.
Whyte’s fans excited at news of his July 17th & 21st tests being negative with VADA
Many of Whyte’s boxing fans are treating this news as a sign that he was clean for his July 20th fight against the Colombian fighter Rivas (26-1, 18 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London, England. Not so fast. Whyte tested positive a month earlier on June 17 in a UKAD conducted test, and the results of that test was revealed three days before his fight against Rivas.
There are no reports of VADA having tested Whyte on the same June 17th date as UKAD, which means VADA’s tests for Whyte on July 17 and and July 21 doesn’t negate the results of his positive test on June 17 with UKAD.
What many fans are failing to understand is the testing done by VADA was done a month later, before and after Whyte’s fight with Rivas. UKAD found Whyte’s positive test for a performance enhancing drug a month earlier on June 17.
Whyte failed drug test conducted by UKAD on June 17
“Both fighters had samples collected on July 17 as well July 21, the day after the fight, and they came back negative,” said Dan Rafael of ESPN about VADA’s tests for those 2 days in July. “Whyte failed a pre-fight test conducted by UKAD, which was also testing both boxers, for the banned steroid dianabol in a sample collected June 17. That result came to light during fight week but, he was still allowed to box in the vacant WBC interim title bout, which he won by unanimous decision.
UKAD has yet to explain why he [Whyte] was allowed to fight. The WBC this week withdrew its recognition of Whyte’s interim title until it completes its own investigation. VADA had not been made aware of the failed UKAD test nor was Rivas,” said Rafael.
It’s still unclear why UKAD allowed Whyte to fight Rivas, given his positive test on June 17. That’s something that only UKAD knows. Whyte’s B-sample has still yet to be examined. If it turns up a different result from the A-sample, it would be a surprise. Given that UKAD cleared Whyte to fight despite adverse findings from his A-sample, it’s difficult to know how they would handle the situation if his B-sample tests positive. Do they clear Whyte under those circumstances like they did by letting him fight Rivas, and allow him continue to fight in the UK? If so, it would be up to the World Boxing Council to decide whether they agree with UKAD’s findings.