The 35 year-old was originally tested almost a week before his fight with Ruslan Chagaev, after which Browne tested positive for Clenbuterol.
‘Big Daddy’ is set to be stripped of the WBA heavyweight title he took from Chagaev, although Hatton now has proof that Browne was clean upon his arrival for the bout.
In our previous statement we confirmed that we believed that Lucas Browne was a clean athlete and arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete. It was our team who requested the testing.
Our investigations are ongoing but such is the lack of confidentiality of information we feel it is important to report further as we progress. This is particularly important given the background of recent drug and testing scandals in and around Russian and eastern European states.
We confirm that on 29 February, 6 days before the bout, Lucas Browne was subjected to an entirely random drug test by VADA. This was both a blood and urine test and was not planned or expected on that date or time.
We confirm that drug test was NEGATIVE. We have in our possession evidence from VADA that this is the case and this is available for inspection.
Mr Browne arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete.
We take no issue with the VADA testing process. At this stage we do not anticipate the B sample providing different results to those seen in the Asample. We support Lucas Browne entirely when he states that he did not knowingly place anything within his body containing any banned substance in the period between 29 February and the fight on 5 March 2016. We are concentrating our further investigations on this period.
– Hatton Promotions.
The next move is now down to the World Boxing Association who have to make a formal ruling on what happens regarding Browne’s initial failed test.
