Russian boxer Povetkin fails doping test ahead of Wilder fight

Alexander Povetkin's promoter says the Russian boxer has failed a drug test ahead of his WBC heavyweight title fight with reigning champion Deontay Wilder

Povetkin tested positive for meldonium, his promoter Andrei Ryabinsky said to Russian media on Friday, Joinfo.ua reports with reference to ABC News.

“We’re in contact with the WBC. They’ll take the decision on whether the fight will happen or not,” Ryabinsky said.

The bout is scheduled on May 21 in Moscow.

Ryabinsky admitted Povetkin took meldonium last year but said he stopped before it was banned on Jan. 1, and only “leftover traces of meldonium at a very low concentration” were found in a blood sample given by Povetkin last month.

It should be recalled that early March the Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova announced that she failed a doping test at January’s Australian Open.