Sergey Kovalev Popped For Synthetic Testosterone

Last we all saw Sergey Kovalev, he was seen being knocked out against Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas in November 2019.

His return to the squared circle maybe a little longer than expected.

Dan Rafael posted on Twitter earlier Thursday that the former Light Heavyweight champion had tested positive for synthetic testosterone via a letter he obtained from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

The test Kovalev failed was back on Dec. 30 which the letter Rafael stated “Adverse analytical finding: IRMS (isotope-ratio mass spectrometry) results are consistent with exogenous origin of testosterone and metabolites,” according to the letter and report Rafel posted for Boxingscene.

“We are aware of the adverse finding from VADA,” Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s longtime promoter, told BoxingScene. “Sergey Kovalev has been proven to be a clean fighter throughout the many years that he has been tested by VADA. VADA was contracted for this fight at his insistence, as he has requested for almost all of his fights going back several years. He maintains that he did not purposefully ingest any banned substances. We have made arrangements to have his supplements tested for contamination and will request that VADA test his B sample.”

BREAKING: Sergey Kovalev has tested positive for synthetic testosterone. I have obtained the VADA letter outlining the details of positive test. Means his Jan. 30 DAZN headliner with Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev likely will be canceled. #boxing

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) January 14, 2021

Kovalev was slated to take on Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev on January 30th in Fantasy Springs, California, on the streaming service DAZN. It was reported that the location change yesterday from Russia due to health and safety concerns, as both are located in the United States for training anyway. It is also well noted that during the pandemic, those recently traveling to Russia have not been able to fly back to their native countries. This was why we had Adam Deines instead of Fang Melong for the now-scrapped fight against Unified 175 lb. champ, Artur Beterbiev.

So what he has for Kovalev is more than likely a scrapped main event, which is a shame as this fight alongside the mentioned Beterbiev fight was supposed to occur on January 30th. Those main events are now off the board, but the main event scheduled to air on FOX between IBF Champion Caleb Plant and Caleb Truax is still a go.

One has to assume that the 37-year-old Kovalev, who hasn’t fought in almost a year and half and who has spent the last few years in a myriad of legal troubles, plus was an underdog to the up and coming Melikuziev, will have finally have to step away from the rine at this point.

Despite this failed test, Melikuziev tweeted that he still wants a piece of Kovalev in the ring.

I don't like talking, but I said it last night – it makes no difference to me, just put him in the ring, let us fight regardless. @DAZNBoxing @Micheladatime @GoldenBoyBoxing @VadimKTeam

— Bektemir Melikuziev (@BMelikuziev) January 14, 2021