This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
On July 20, 2019, British boxer Dillian Whyte faced off against Colombian Oscar Rivas at London's O2 Arena in a highly anticipated match. However, a cloud of uncertainty has been cast over Whyte's career after a recent doping scandal.
According to the World Boxing Council (WBC), Whyte's sample collected by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) yielded an adverse finding. The WBC has since provisionally suspended Whyte's status as interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger to Deontay Wilder, pending the outcome of their investigation and adjudicatory process.
Whyte, 31, has a history of doping offenses, having served a suspension between 2012 and 2014 for a previous offense. If his B sample tests positive, he faces a potential career-ending ban.
"A sample UKAD collected from Mr Dillian Whyte in relation to his bout against Oscar Rivas yielded an adverse finding," the WBC stated. "In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC's own investigation and adjudicatory process, the WBC is provisionally suspending the WBC's recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger of the division."
Whyte's promoter, Eddie Hearn, described the boxer as "absolutely broken" last week. Whyte has fought 18 times since his comeback, losing only once to compatriot and former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2015.
