Dillian Whyte has been thrown out of a rematch with Anthony Joshua after testing positive for a banned substance for the third time in his boxing career.
“The Body Snatcher” popped dirty, according to Matchroom Boxing, in the run-up to a second fight with Joshua planned for August 12.
Whyte and Joshua were finishing their training camps when the shock news broke in a statement to World Boxing News.
Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte canceled
“Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions, and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings. They came as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
“In light of this news, the fight will be canceled. A full investigation will be conducted,” said Matchroom Boxing.
They added that news on what happens with Joshua’s return and the scheduled co-features “will follow.”
Bitter enemies, Joshua and Whyte, were set to reunite in the ring eight years after their first meeting. Joshua won in seven rounds after being wobbled early by Whyte.
The O2 sold out in just two hours for the event.
In the hottest ticket in boxing this summer, fans wasted no time snapping up every seat at London’s iconic 18,000-capacity venue for what could have been the second of a three-bout saga.
The pair have shared an astonishing history of violence dating back to their amateur days. Whyte was victorious before Joshua sensationally settled the score when he stopped his rival as a professional in 2015.
Sadly, Eddie Hearn’s astonishment that the pair would even meet again has come back to bite him.
Third positive test for Whyte
Hearn said: “This is a fight I still can’t believe is happening.
“Little more than seven years ago, these two came head-to-head. I saw a picture earlier. They are unrecognizable from where they are today. Some seven years on, a plethora of huge heavyweight fights between them in sold-out stadiums and all around the world, these two heavyweights collide in London once again,”
Unfortunately for UK fans, no, they don’t.
Whyte faces a backlash from the British contingent for the controversy, which follows a two-year ban between 2012 and 2014, just a year before he met AJ in the first fight.
The second time happened after another contentious win over Oscar Rivas in July 2019. Whyte eventually explained away the positive test and ironically returned five months later on a Joshua undercard.
It could be a case of three strikes and you out as far as landing another massive event for the former villain moving forward.
