On the back of Povetkin testing positive prior to a mandatory fight with Deontay Wilder last year, the veteran then gave a positive sample in December during a WBC Clean Boxing Program test.
Despite both Bermane Stiverne and Wilder pulling out of subsequent bouts, Povetkin stopped Johann Duhaupas and more recently defeated Andrey Rudenko on points at the weekend.
Asked his thoughts on the win and his positive showing for ostarine, Povetkin was in a reflective mood.
“I want to thank everybody for their support. I knew Andriy was going to be a strong opponent who never surrenders. Things didn’t go as I anticipated,” said Povetkin.
“The fight probably had to go on in this way just to get an experience of this kind and this kind of opponent, who tests me and will help me to progress. I feel this kind of the fight was needed and I had to go through twelve rounds.
“We shall go on, correct our mistakes and become stronger. Rudenko is a strong guy, he has a stone chin and a big heart.
“The fight was interesting, I planned to show good boxing there. Sometimes I was a bit still, too inhibited but we shall go on to go better things,” he added before addressing the banned substance.
“Certainly I feel keen to learn about ostarine, but I feel hurt as I even do not know what ostarine is,” he stated.
Povetkin is now highly-ranked once again with both the WBO and WBA, with a shot at either Joseph Parker a possibility in 2018.
The WBC, on the other hand, are yet to make an official ruling since the WBA and WBO moved to reinstate Povetkin.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
