Robert Helenius has been banned from boxing for two years following a failed drugs test after his bout with Anthony Joshua. The Finnish heavyweight was knocked out in the seventh round by Joshua at the O2 Arena on August 13 last year.
Joshua, a former WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world heavyweight champion, secured the victory with a powerful right hand after a cautious opening six rounds. Helenius had stepped in on short notice after Dillian Whyte withdrew from the scheduled bout, having himself failed a voluntary drugs test.
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The UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) announced Helenius' ban in a statement issued today. The statement read: "Finnish Professional Boxer Robert Helenius has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for two years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance. Mr. Helenius was tested by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after his bout against Anthony Joshua at the London O2 Arena on 12 August 2023. Analysis of his Sample revealed the Presence of clomifene. Clomifene is a Specified Substance that is prohibited at all times."
According to UKAD's report, Helenius claimed that he ingested clomifene, an illegal substance, from consuming eggs and chicken meat. However, he was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support this claim. Clomifene is often used to treat infertility in women but can also enhance athletic performance by boosting testosterone levels in men.
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