Lawrence Okolie has denied cheating after a failed drugs test forced the cancellation of his planned heavyweight fight with Tony Yoka.
Okolie reportedly tested positive for GHRP 2, a banned human growth hormone stimulator, on the eve of the bout. The result led to the entire promotion being cancelled, leaving the former world champion facing a major battle to clear his name.
“It’s the worst thing that’s happened in my life,” Okolie said, admitting the situation has left him with sleepless nights. He said he was blindsided by the result and is now allowing lawyers to handle the process.
Okolie pointed to his long testing history and said he was the one who asked for VADA testing for the Yoka fight. “If I wanted to cheat I would never, in a million years, ask to be put under more of a microscope,” he said.
The British heavyweight said he cannot yet give a full explanation because of the ongoing case, but claimed the issue came from “human error” that was not his own. He added that there is evidence and that the situation is “very clear cut.”
Asked directly whether he cheated, Okolie was firm: “No.” He expects the full details to come out soon and believes he will return to boxing as quickly as possible.
Image Credit: BBC