Nigerian-born British boxer Lawrence Okolie has returned an adverse doping result just days before his scheduled heavyweight fight against Tony Yoka in Paris, casting serious doubt over the bout.
The 33-year-old was due to face the 2016 Olympic gold medallist at the Adidas Arena this weekend, but the contest is now uncertain following the test result reported by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
In a statement, his promoters at Queensberry Promotions confirmed the development, saying they were notified of the failed test ahead of the event.
They added that further updates regarding the fight would be communicated in due course, leaving the entire fight card in limbo as several bouts are now at risk.
Okolie, a former WBO cruiserweight world champion, recently stepped up to the heavyweight division in pursuit of another world title. He currently holds the WBC Silver heavyweight belt and last fought in December, defeating Ebenezer Tetteh.
He also previously held the WBC bridgerweight title in 2024, strengthening his standing across multiple weight divisions.
The bout with Yoka had generated significant interest, especially after the French fighter was earlier linked to a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua before agreeing to face Okolie.
Meanwhile, officials from the British Boxing Board of Control have declined to comment, noting that they are still reviewing the situation before issuing an official response.