Nigerian-born boxer Lawrence Okolie has reached a resolution with one of the world’s leading professional pugilists’ federations regarding his return to the ring soon – though a dope trial continues unfolding around him, Sports247 reports.
The British heavyweight returned an adverse analytical finding ahead of his fight against Tony Yoka in April, but he continued to firmly maintain his innocence, which a statement from the World Boxing Council (WBC) has now appeared to corroborate.
Okolie had been the WBC’s number one ranked contender, and the body held a review under their Clean Boxing Program, in which the 33-year-old provided evidence that it was the ‘result of the actions of a third party, without his knowledge or consent.’
The WBC added that Okolie’s clean track record and the fact that he cooperated all through the investigation, without any skirmishes, led to the reprieve they gave him regarding his belts.
Although the dark-skinned Okolie has not fought since December last year, the tall fighter, who had been in line for a WBC world heavyweight title shot, is now targeting a return to the ring in the coming months.
“Clean sport has always been extremely important to me. I have cooperated fully throughout the process and remain committed to the highest standards of integrity in boxing. I look forward to the next chapter of my career.
“(I look forward) to being actively involved in the sport in the months ahead, while also using this experience to help educate other athletes about the importance of understanding and monitoring everything that enters their bodies.”
Sports247 gathered further that Okolie will now face additional testing and work with the WBC in support of education, awareness, enlightenment and compliance efforts, to make sure amateur and professional boxers stay in line with anti-doping requirements.
