The fight was scheduled to take place on May 21 in Moscow, Russia - but the World Boxing Council has officially put a stop to the contest after Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.
The WBC is now conducting an investigation and there is no word if Povetkin will remain in the mandatory position, if Wilder will be allowed to make a voluntary defense or if the sanctioning body will name a new mandatory.
Povetkin's promoter claims his fighter took the drug when it was still legal, last September. The drug became a banned substance on January 1st of this year. But three of Povetkin's test in the first half of April came up negative for the drug, with the fourth coming up positive late in the month. Based on that scenario, it is being claimed that he came in contact with the drug at some point in late April.
While Ryabinsky wants to reschedule the fight to a new date, Deas is very firm in stating that the contest is "off" and not "postponed" as the Russian promoter claims.
"The fight is off. Not postponed. Off. We are gutted. All the hard work we put in with the time, effort and money is gone, through no fault of ours. The ripple effect from this cancellation reaches hundreds of people. We will take some time off and be back soon and continue to campaign and demand a clean sport and level playing field," Deas stated.
Wilder, 30, had been training in England for the past two weeks and was to fly to Moscow on Sunday, instead flying home to Alabama for further developments.
Article courtesy of Boxing Scene
