Lawrence Okolie's scheduled fight against Tony Yoka has been cancelled after he tested positive for a banned substance. The British boxer was set to face the Olympic gold medallist in Paris, but the event has been called off after Okolie returned an adverse finding in an anti-doping test.
Queensberry Promotions announced the news on social media, stating that they had been informed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) about the test result. Okolie, a former world champion at cruiserweight, had been hoping to position himself for a shot at the heavyweight world championship with a win against Yoka. He has since released a statement on social media, explaining that he had been treated for an elbow injury and is confident that an investigation will clear his name. Okolie has vowed to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities and has asked for patience and support from his fans.