Warren Blasts ‘Stupid’ Joshua For Questioning Dubois’ VADA Enrolment
Frank Warren has slammed Anthony Joshua’s management team for questioning whether Daniel Dubois had signed up with VADA.
Dubois will defend his IBF Heavyweight Title against Joshua on September 21. Dubois got the belt after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title following his split decision win over Tyson Fury to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Joshua knows plenty is on the line, as a win makes him a three-time world champion. It also makes him mandatory for the winner of the Fury-Usyk rematch on December 21.
PED Problems
Dubois and Joshua have already exchanged verbals during the build-up. However, Joshua’s team took things further by questioning whether Dubois followed the relevant testing protocols. This is vital in light of the current scandals surrounding failed tests. Conor Benn failed two VADA tests for Clomiphene, meaning his fight with Chris Eubank Jr. was called off.
Benn is suspended by UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control pending an investigation. After their fight, Robert Helenius, a former opponent of Anthony Joshua, tested positive for Clomiphene. Although Joshua got the stoppage win, Helenius had PEDs in his system.
“Finnish Professional Boxer Robert Helenius has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for two years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance. Mr Helenius was tested by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after his bout against Anthony Joshua at the London O2 Arena on 12 August 2023. Analysis of his Sample revealed the Presence of Clomiphene. Clomiphene is a Specified Substance that is prohibited at all-times,” UKAD statement
Joshua’s Annoyance
He has received a two-year ban, setting a strong precedent. Ryan Garcia has also been banned for one-year after failing for Ostarine. The decision meant that Garcia’s win over Devin Haney became a no-contest. Given that Joshua has seen other fighters fail, especially Jarell Miller, whom he was on course to fight at one point, AJ’s team wanted all protocols followed. He has previously singled out the lack of standards regarding testing.
“I don’t understand how 60 per cent to 70 per cent of people can get away with doping if you get random drug tests? I get drug-tested all year round. Every quarter, I have to submit my whereabouts, where I’m going to be every day, at what hour of the day, so [drug testers] can turn up randomly if they want. It’s been like that since 2011. I’ve submitted it every day of my life. So why am I under that pressure, but 60 per cent to 70 per cent of other boxers aren’t? Once you sign up to a top-tier promoter they should all have that [approach to random testing] as part of the deal,”Joshua revealed
Warren Reacts
But Warren has questioned Joshua’s decision to call out Dubois openly, when it could have been done in private.
“They’ve done it. I don’t know why. Ask them. It’s stupid that they did it. It was not appropriate to put that out. He [Dubois] signed up. He’s clean. He doesn’t need PEDs for those bombs, those rocket launchers. When they start flying, you’re going to wish you’d been taking PEDs to strengthen you up against them,” Warren said
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