Lawrence Okolie has spoken out after failing a pre-fight drugs test ahead of his bout with Tony Yoka on Saturday.
Okolie was set to face Yoka in a crunch heavyweight clash in Paris.
However, on Tuesday ‘The Sauce’ retuned an adverse analytical finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Test, leaving Saturday’s scheduled main event in jeopardy.
Okolie’s promoter Queensberry posted on X: “Last night the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed Queensberry that Lawrence Okolie had returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted ahead of the show in Paris on Saturday.
“A further update regarding the event will be made in due course.”
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The former cruiserweight world champion was quick to release a statement of his own, vowing to clear his name.
The 33-year-old posted on Instagram: “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 cooperating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name.
“I won’t be making any further comment at this time.
“Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 21, 2026
The Hackney man is the number one contender with the WBC behind world champion, Oleksandr Usyk who defends his title against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt.
Okolie, who forced Ebenezer Tetteh to retire in two rounds in December, had been hopeful of securing a shot at WBC interim titlist, Agit Kabayel.
2016 Olympic gold medalist, Yoka stopped Patrick Korte in December on the same card as Okolie’s win over Tetteh in Nigeria.
Okolie’s promoter, Frank Warren has revealed he is looking to replace the Brit to ensure Yoka can still fight on Saturday.
“It is very unsatisfactory,” Warren told talkSPORT.
“But it is what it is and we’ve got to get on with it and make sure we run a show and that’s what we’re trying to do at the moment and find an opponent for Tony Yoka.
“I’m trying to find a British fighter to get in there.
“If we can’t find an opponent, we’ve got to consider postponing the show.”
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