British boxer Lawrence Okolie has failed a doping test, and as a result his scheduled heavyweight fight against Frenchman Tony Yoka has been canceled, BBC Sport reports.
The 33-year-old boxer was due to face 2016 Olympic champion Yoko in Paris on Saturday, April 25. However, his promoter Queensberry said Okoli had tested positive for a banned substance by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). The fight was called off due to “circumstances beyond his control.”
In response to the test result, the former world champion explained it by saying that he had recently completed treatment for an injury.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, after a bicep injury last year, I suffered an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp,” Okolie wrote on Instagram.
“I have been in treatment and now here we are. I sincerely hope that reason will prevail. I will of course fully cooperate with all relevant authorities and am confident that any investigation will clear my name.”
According to insider Dan Raphael, Okolie tested positive in a urine sample for the banned synthetic hormone GHRP-2. The hormone promotes muscle growth in early April in Manchester. The boxer has 10 days to request the opening of the B sample.
Okolie won the WBC bridgeweight title by defeating Pole Lukasz Ruzhanski by knockout in May 2024. Okolie then moved up to super heavyweight and won the WBC Silver title in his first fight by defeating German Hussein Muhammad in December.
In total, Okoli fought three fights in the division of Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and won all of them. The second fight took place before Usyk's fight against Daniel Dubois at Wembley, when he won the absolute championship. Okoli also won a unanimous decision over South Africa's Kevin Lerenault. In his last fight, the Briton defeated Ghanaian boxer Ebenezer Tetteh in December 2025.
Okolie is currently ranked first in the WBC heavyweight rankings, which are led by Usyk. The Briton is a potential contender to fight the Ukrainian to defend his title, while the interim champion is Agit Kabael. Okolie is also ranked eighth in the IBF rankings, which Usyk holds.