The UK Anti-Doping Agency and the Finnish Professional Boxing Association (SAN) have suspended heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius (32-5) for two years after he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene.
Helenius tested positive at the weigh-in on August 11, 2023. The following day, he was knocked out in seven rounds by Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London in a fight he accepted on one week's notice to replace Dillian Whyte, who had already been ruled out after a positive drugs test.
Helenius has denied any intentional cheating. The 40-year-old Helenius is recovering from neck surgery and his future is uncertain. He is suspended until Sept. 17, 2025, but the suspension is backdated to Sept. 18, 2023.
“Mr Helenius was tested by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) following his bout against Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London on 12 August 2023. Analysis of his sample revealed the presence of clomiphene, a scheduled substance which is prohibited at all times.”
“UKAD notified Mr Helenius of the ADRV for the presence and use of a prohibited substance and provisionally suspended him. Following the ADRV, Mr Helenius stated that the clomiphene detected in his urine sample must have come from the consumption of eggs and chicken. However, at UKAD's request, Mr Helenius failed to provide evidence that the eggs and chicken he consumed before the match came from chickens that had been treated with clomiphene. As a result, Mr Helenius was unable to identify the source of the clomiphene in his sample and could not reduce his two-year suspension.
“Mr Helenius is entitled to have the period of his provisional suspension credited, so his suspension will be deemed to have commenced on 18 September 2023 and to have ended at midnight on 17 September 2025.”
