British boxer Lawrence Okolie fails drug test just days before major heavyweight fight
Lawrence Okolie has returned an adverse finding in a drugs test just days before he was set to make his return to the boxing ring.
Former cruiserweight and bridgerweight world champion Okolie was due to face Tony Yoka in Paris on Saturday evening as he pursues his heavyweight ambitions.
However, a statement from his promoter Queensberry confirmed: "Last night, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Queensberry that Lawrence Okolie returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted ahead of the show in Paris this Saturday.
Okolie and Yoka both competed at the Rio Olympics in 2016, though in different weight classes. British fighter Okolie departed Brazil without a medal, while Yoka claimed gold at super-heavyweight, defeating Joe Joyce in a contentious final. Okolie has since become world champion at cruiserweight before suffering defeat to Chris Billam-Smith three years ago.
He subsequently knocked out Lukasz Rozanski to capture the lightly-regarded WBC bridgerweight title before stepping up to boxing's premier division.
Okolie had stopped his previous three opponents before agreeing to Saturday night's bout with Frenchman Yoka.When the fight was announced, Okolie said: "At cruiserweight, it was difficult to make the weight, at bridgerweight it was difficult for me to make weight and now at heavyweight, I feel at my best and at my strongest, my most explosive and my most comfortable. This fight is eight or nine weeks away so I can get into really good shape. I feel my best self right now.
"I've watched him fight several times. We went to the same Olympics so for me this is an opportunity for me too. I never got to win an Olympic gold medal fight so for me this is my Olympic gold medal fight.
"When you see any good heavyweight you think they could be an opponent. He's a good fighter, he's got a lot of experience, he's boxed a lot of good guys. As a professional he hasn't hit the levels he possibly can and I think the momentum is in my favour."