Wawrzyk was due to challenge Wilder for the WBC title on February 25 in Birmingham, Alabama until VADA revealed their findings late on Tuesday.
The positive test for steroid Stanazolol means undefeated champion Wilder is now forced to search for a new opponent for the scheduled date next month.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced: “WBC confirms that Andrzej Wawrzyk has tested positive anabolic steroid ‘Stanozolol Metabolites’. Steroidal.com states Stanozolol is a DHT derived anabolic steroid, increasing athletic power, strength and speed. The fight was contracted for out of competition surprise testing and this is how tragedies are prevented.
@WBCBoxing confirms that Andrzej Wawrzyk has tested positive anabolic steroid “Stanozolol Metabolites “. @Vada_Testing #CleanBoxingProgram
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) January 25, 2017
Wilder went through similar when expecting to fight Alexander Povetkin in a mandatory bout last May, only for the Russian to fail a test just days before they met.
With just one month left until the contest, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ faces a tough quest to draft in a decent opponent to fill the void left by Wawrzyk’s departure.
Under the rules, a top 15 opponent is required by the WBC, leaving the likes of Gerald Washington, Jarrell Miller, Dillian Whyte, Andriy Rudenko and David Price in the frame.
Whether the majority of contenders would take the fight with such little time is up for debate and Wilder may be afforded a little wiggle room on the choices afforded to him.