- – Finnish boxer Robert Helenius receives a two-year suspension for testing positive for a banned substance after his fight against Anthony Joshua.
- – The 40-year-old heavyweight claimed the substance, clomifene, came from eggs and chicken he consumed before the fight, but was unable to provide evidence to support his claim.
- – The suspension will sideline Helenius until September 17, 2025, raising doubts about his future competitiveness in the sport.
In a significant blow to his career, celebrated Finnish boxer Robert Helenius has been handed a two-year suspension from the sport after testing positive for a banned substance in the aftermath of his fight against Anthony Joshua last year.
The 40-year-old heavyweight, who was 39 at the time of the August 2023 bout at London’s O2 Arena, was found to have clomifene in his system during a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) test conducted following his knockout defeat to Joshua.
Clomifene is a prohibited substance that is often used to stimulate the production of testosterone, and its presence in an athlete’s sample is considered a doping violation under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Helenius, a former European heavyweight champion who was aiming to mount a late-career resurgence against the younger, larger Joshua, has vehemently maintained his innocence, claiming that the clomifene must have originated from eggs and chicken he consumed in the lead-up to the fight.
However, in a statement released on Friday, UKAD asserted that the Finnish boxer was “unable to provide evidence that the eggs and chicken he had consumed in advance of the bout originated from hens that had been administered clomifene.”
“He was therefore unable to identify the source of clomifene in his Sample and therefore unable to reduce the applicable period of Ineligibility of two years,” the anti-doping agency added.
The suspension will be effective from September 18, 2023, the date on which Helenius was initially provisionally suspended, and he will be eligible to return to the sport after midnight on September 17, 2025.
This latest development represents a significant setback for Helenius, who had been aiming to recapture past glories and potentially secure a world title shot in the twilight of his career. The two-year ban will effectively sideline him until he is 42 years old, casting doubt on his ability to remain competitive at the highest level upon his return.
The case also serves as a cautionary tale for professional athletes, underscoring the importance of meticulous due diligence when it comes to the consumption of any substances, even those that may be perceived as innocuous, in the lead-up to major competitions.
