Okolie fails drug test, clash with Yoka called off

Lawrence Okolie has been pulled from his scheduled clash with Tony Yoka after returning an adverse finding in a pre-fight anti-doping test, forcing the cancellation of Saturday’s card in Paris. 

The bout, set for April 25 at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, had been positioned as a key step toward a world title opportunity at heavyweight, but those plans are now on hold as the case moves forward.

Promoter Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions confirmed they were notified by Voluntary Anti-Doping Association late Monday of the failed test, which detected GHRP-2 and its M8 metabolite. 

Efforts to salvage the event by finding a replacement opponent for Yoka proved unsuccessful, leading to the full cancellation of the show.

Okolie, 33, had been closing in on a major opportunity in the division. Ranked just behind champion Oleksandr Usyk and interim titleholder Agit Kabayel in the WBC standings, a win over Yoka would have strengthened his case for a mandatory shot later this year. 

Instead, his immediate future now depends on the outcome of the anti-doping process, which could carry significant consequences if the result is upheld.

The British fighter addressed the situation on social media, linking the finding to treatment for an elbow injury sustained during training camp. 

He said, “Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp. I had a treatment on it, and now we are here. I truly hope sense prevails.

“I will, of course, be fully co-operating with all relevant authorities, and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name.”

Cases involving substances like GHRP-2 are typically treated seriously due to their role in stimulating human growth hormone production, and sanctions can extend up to four years depending on the findings and level of fault.

For Yoka, the cancellation represents a lost opportunity on home soil. 

The 2016 Olympic gold medalist had been preparing for a high-profile return in Paris, hoping to make his bones in the heavyweight ranks after recent wins. 

Without a replacement bout, his timeline for activity now shifts, with his team expected to seek a new opponent in the coming months.