The highly-anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte has been postponed due to Whyte recording what has been described as 'adverse analytical finding as part of a random anti-doping protocol'.
With Joshua wanting to have another fight under trainer Derrick James ahead of a showdown with Deontay Wilder, the decision was made to agree to a rematch with his long-term rival.
Back in 2015, Joshua was pushed by Whyte before recording a conclusive seventh-round stoppage, and the second instalment had sold out the O2 Arena on August 12.
However, those plans have now been shelved after it emerged that Whyte had failed a drugs test, with promoters Matchroom Sport being informed on Saturday.
BREAKING..more updates to follow shortly. pic.twitter.com/cnKFqYgIVV
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) August 5, 2023
As it stands, it is unclear whether the rest of the event will go ahead as planned with Eddie Hearn having already pencilled in his and DAZN's schedule for the rest of the year.
While Joshua could theoretically now wait until a bout with Wilder in the New Year, he has already fought just twice in nearly two years.
From the perspective of Matchroom, this is the second time that a major sell-out event at the O2 Arena has fallen through within a week of the fight in the space of a year.
In October, Chris Eubank Jr had been schedule to face Conor Benn before it emerged that his opponent had failed two drugs test, with Benn later being cleared, barring a UKAD appeal, just last week.
Darren Plant
