Lawrence Okolie has suggested that his recent failed drug test may be linked to treatment he received for a bicep injury.
The former cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion was set to face Tony Yoka in Paris but his promoter, Queensberry, revealed that Okolie had an adverse finding in an anti-doping test conducted before the event. Okolie took to social media to explain that he had suffered an elbow injury on the same arm following a previous bicep injury and had undergone treatment for it.
Okolie and Yoka both participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, with Yoka winning a gold medal while Okolie left empty-handed. Okolie later became a world champion at cruiserweight before moving up to the bridgerweight division. He had won the WBC bridgerweight title before transitioning to heavyweight where he was scheduled to fight Yoka.
In preparation for the fight, Okolie expressed his confidence in moving up to heavyweight, feeling stronger and more comfortable at the weight class. He saw the bout as an opportunity to showcase his skills, especially after missing out on Olympic gold. Okolie acknowledged Yoka’s experience but believed that the momentum was in his favor.
The fight between Okolie and Yoka garnered attention, but Okolie’s failed drug test has cast a shadow over the event. Despite the setback, Okolie remains optimistic that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing and appreciates the support from his fans.
This turn of events adds a layer of uncertainty to the upcoming match, with fans waiting for further updates on the situation.
