Dillian Whyte has returned “an adverse finding” from a doping test, causing his heavyweight rematch against Anthony Joshua on August 12, 2023 to be cancelled.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed the promoters, Matchroom, and boxing authorities of the test result.
“In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled and a full investigation will be conducted,” said a Matchroom statement.
Joshua could still fight at London’s O2 Arena if a new opponent can be found.
The fight between Joshua and Whyte, a rematch of their 2015 bout, was announced a month ago.
Joshua, 33, knocked out 35-year-old Whyte in the seventh round of their heated British title fight eight years ago, which also took place at the O2, as he avenged a loss to his rival on the amateur circuit.
Whyte, who lost his only world title challenge to Tyson Fury in 2022, beat Joshua by decision as an amateur in 2009 to start what became a bitter rivalry.
Olympic gold medallist Joshua went on to become a two-time world champion.
Joshua gained revenge when the pair met again as professionals in December 2015, being rocked in the second round but recovering to force a stoppage in the seventh.
White had a doping violation charge dropped in 2019 after UK Anti-Doping said the levels of a banned steroid were “very low” and he was not at fault.
