Sergey Kovalev Assessments Constructive For Artificial Testosterone, Placing Jan. 30 Bout in Jeopardy

Former three-time mild heavyweight world titleholder Sergey Kovalev has examined optimistic artificial testosterone, that means his struggle with up-and-comer Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev possible will likely be canceled.

The struggle, contracted at a catch weight of 178 kilos, was scheduled to happen as the principle occasion of a DAZN card on the Fantasy Springs Resort On line casino in Indio, California, after having been moved this week from Luzhniki Enviornment in Moscow as a result of worsening Covid-19 scenario.

Kovalev gave a pattern to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Affiliation on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, the place he has been coaching, and the optimistic consequence was returned on Wednesday, based on the letter VADA despatched to Kovalev’s crew and different’s concerned within the occasion outlining the small print of the optimistic take a look at.

“Adversarial analytical discovering: IRMS (isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) outcomes are in keeping with exogenous origin of testosterone and metabolites,” based on the letter, a replica of which was obtained by BoxingScene.com.

The letter, despatched to the California State Athletic Fee, the Affiliation of Boxing Commissions, Golden Boy Promotions and Foremost Occasions, added that “Mr. Kovalev has the appropriate to promptly request evaluation of the ‘B’ pattern at his expense.”

“We’re conscious of the antagonistic discovering from VADA,” Foremost Occasions CEO Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s longtime promoter, instructed BoxingScene. “Sergey Kovalev has been confirmed to be a clear fighter all through the numerous years that he has been examined by VADA. VADA was contracted for this struggle at his insistence, as he has requested for nearly all of his fights going again a number of years. He maintains that he didn’t purposefully ingest any banned substances. We now have made preparations to have his dietary supplements examined for contamination and can request that VADA take a look at his B pattern.”

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs), 37, a Russia native preventing out of Santa Monica, California, has not fought since he misplaced the WBO 175-pound world title to Canelo Alvarez by brutal Eleventh-round knockout on Nov. 2, 2019 on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Alvarez had moved up two weight courses to problem him for his title.

Kovalev, who’s owed a seven-figure comeback struggle as a part of the deal for the Alvarez struggle, was scheduled to tackle former mild heavyweight world title challenger Sullivan Barrera at 180 kilos in the principle occasion of a DAZN card on April 25 at Fantasy Springs, however that present was canceled as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs), 24, an Uzbekistan native preventing out of Indio, California, was an beginner standout and one in all boxing’s prime rising prospects.

Melikuziev, a southpaw, was prepared to maneuver up in weight to face Kovalev after having had his final bout at 168 kilos.

Dan Rafael was ESPN.com’s senior boxing author for fifteen years, and coated the game for 5 years at USA At present. He was the 2013 BWAA Nat Fleischer Award winner for excellence in boxing journalism.