Lucas Browne
WBA heavyweight boxing champion Lucas Browne says he’s “completely” innocent of doping, but has no idea whether he will be able to clear his name.
Browne tested positive to banned steroid clenbuterol, which boosts metabolism and burns fat, when he won his world title by beating Ruslan Chagaev in the 10th round of their fight in Grozny, Russia, on March 5.
The victory made him Australia’s first heavyweight world boxing champion.
The positive case was first reported by ESPN, citing a letter to the boxers and managers involved in the Grozny fight from the Las Vegas-based Volunteer Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
“I am completely innocent,” Browne told Perth media yesterday. “Unfortunately social media runs wild with things like this.
“A lot of people I thought were friends are now jumping on the bandwagon, saying I’m a cheat when they don’t really know the story. I would like to assure all my fans, the whole of the boxing world and all of Australia that I am not a drug user or a drug cheat.”
Browne’s promoter, former British boxer Ricky Hatton, confirmed earlier this week he had been notified of Browne’s positive test.
“We believe Lucas Browne to be a clean athlete who arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete,” Hatton said in a statement. “We are therefore conducting our own further investigations and cannot comment further at this time.”
Browne earlier said he’d never heard of clenbuterol, until now. He said he has been told the substance is used as a weight-loss drug, which he said would be “utterly ridiculous” to use as a heavyweight.
Browne suggested the positive test could have resulted from sabotage. MDT/AP
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