Nigerian-born former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has found another shade of controversy coming up against his much-expected epic fight with British rival, Tyson Fury, this time regarding mandatory drugs tests for both fighters.
Sports247 reports that, although contracts for the fight have been signed and November 11th has been fixed for the date in Cardiff City, Wales, a lot of heat is now being raised regarding mandatory drugs tests that both boxers are meant to go through before D-Day.
While ‘AJ’ appears ready to comply with the directive and no dust is emerging from his team regarding the matter, feelers from Fury’s camp indicate that ‘The Gypsy King’ is delaying his enrolment with the anti-doping agency that would certify both fighters clean to step into the ring.
Although Joshua’s camp is yet to make any public statement regarding the issue, boxing experts have raised insinuations over Fury’s delayed enrollment, with reminders now soaring around that he actually failed a performance enhancement test some years back.
A report by UK’s Sunspots added in part, “When AJ, 36, penned his half of the contract, his version stated that both heavyweights had to register with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for their Battle-of-Britain bout in the early hours of December 12.
“Fury, 38, had not enrolled and Joshua, who has been training in Dubai, was considering swerving Wednesday’s launch press conference. But a source close to Fury claimed he has signed up and supplied a whereabouts from so he can be found and tested at any time.
“The late change in time and venue – from New York’s Madison Square Garden in November, to Cardiff (in the early hours of the next day) – meant Fury has been able to delay his enrollment.
“Joshua and Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn have been diplomatic and said they are not suggesting anything unfair has taken place. But Fury and his cousin, Hughie failed February 2015 tests for Nandrolone and were handed backdated bans in 2017.
“Now the contracts are signed for the dust-up in Cardiff in the early hours of December 12, live on Netflix. However, there are still plenty of things to iron out to guarantee the heavyweights actually step into the ring and touch gloves in the Welsh capital.”
