Dillian Whyte has broken his silence on a failed drug test ahead of his defeat of Oscar Rivas by insisting he won the bout “fair and square”.
The British heavyweight tested positive for a banned substance three days before his fight with Rivas on Saturday.
Whyte survived a ninth-round knockdown to claim victory over the Colombian on points at the O2 Arena in London.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Whyte insisted that he won the fight fair and square.
He said: “I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me over the last few days.
“I have lawyers dealing with it and I have been told that I can’t talk about it for good legal reasons. I was cleared to fight and I won that fight fair and square.”
The 31-year-old has served a previous doping ban from 2012 for unknowingly taking an illegal supplement, and he could now be suspended for eight years if he is found guilty of a second offence.
Sportsmail revealed on Thursday that Whyte underwent a hearing in front of a doping panel just before his clash with Rivas.
It is understood that the 31-year-old and his legal representatives made their case to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel on Saturday morning.
The tests are believed to have been administered by the British agency UKAD on July 17.
The results were reported to Whyte’s Matchroom promoters and the British Boxing Board of Control.
The latter allowed the fight to go ahead according to legal protocol, pending B sample tests and appeals.
Should Whyte’s B sample come back negative, he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Speaking to iFL TV, Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Before this bout this situation was dealt with.
“Dillian Whyte was cleared by that panel to take part in this fight.
“That is really important because people think this news came in and was brushed under the carpet and no-one knew about it. No. A process was adhered to. A hearing was had. He was confirmed and cleared to take part in this fight.”
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