DILLIAN WHYTE has been reinstated as the WBC mandatory challenger after he was cleared by UK Anti-Doping last week.
However, the British heavyweight won’t receive his shot at Deontay Wilder until February 2021 with the Bronze Bomber set to rematch Tyson Fury.
Dillian Whyte’s suspension has been lifted by the WBCCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Body Snatcher has never received an opportunity at a world championship despite being ranked at No 1 by the governing body since October 2017.
And Whyte was stripped of his position as mandatory challenger after news of an irregular sample from a drugs test emerged following his win over Oscar Rivas earlier this year.
Yet he was cleared of any wrongdoing by UKAD just 24 hours before his points win against Mariusz Wach on the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz undercard in Saudi Arabia.
Whyte’s suspension has now been lifted and he has been confirmed as their interim world heavyweight champion.
However, while the situation was ongoing the WBC announced that Fury had been named as the mandatory challenger to face Wilder, meaning he will have to wait until 2021.
A statement said: “On July 20, 2019, Dillian Whyte defeated Oscar Rivas conquering the WBC Interim Heavyweight World Championship.
“A few days later, a news report made public that an out-of-competition urine sample collected by UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) on June 20, 2019 from Dillian Whyte had yielded an adverse finding.
“In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, on July 30, 2109, the WBC provisionally suspended its recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion and Mandatory Challenger of the division.
“On December 6, 2019, UKAD made a public announcement withdrawing its charge against Dillian Whyte.
“Based on limited but detailed research and information gathering, including the WBC’s consultation with two independent experts, the WBC found that there was no sufficient or conclusive evidence that Whyte intentionally, or even knowingly, ingested a banned substance with the purpose of enhancing his performance in any fashion.
“In light of the WBC’s own finding and of UKAD’s withdrawal of the claim against Mr. Whyte, the WBC has closed its internal investigation.
“The WBC is hereby lifting its provisional suspension and confirming its recognition of Mr. Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion.
“Consistent with the WBC Board of Governors’ Ruling at last October’s 57 WBC Annual Convention, Interim Champion Whyte shall become the Mandatory Challenger of the division immediately after Champion Deontay Wilder’s mandatory defense against current Mandatory Challenger Tyson Fury, with the mandatory defense against Whyte being due on or about February of 2021.”
Dillian Whyte vs Mariusz Wach: Round by Round
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
