Artur Beterbiev December VADA tests contained an “atypical finding”
Ahead of this weekend's clash with Callum Smith (29-1, 21KO), unified Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19KO) returned an abnormal finding in his VADA testing results.
Beterbiev and smith do battle this Saturday, January 13, in Quebec City, Canada, for the Russian's WBC, IBF, WBO world titles.
It was revealed on January 11, just two days before fight night, that the champion recorded an “atypical finding” for raised levels of HGH and Testosterone Metabolite 5D-Androstanediol in a December 6th VADA test.
It has been found that both substances have occured naturally in the body and follow-up tests from VADA were all negative.
Beterbiev has already spoken out with a statement released on social media earlier today: “It has come to my attention that Callum Smith intends to disseminate misleading information about my VADA testing for this fight. Let me be clear now – I am a clean athlete. I have never tested positive for a banned substance throughout my career. Any attempt to imply otherwise, through innuendo or suggestion is slanderous and libellous. This conduct is beyond acceptable trash talk. Callum is already searching for excuses, looking for a way out. See you Saturday.”
VADA Founder and Chair Dr. Margaret Goodman released a statement, “No negative inference should be drawn from an atypical finding in and of itself.”
The unified light-heavyweight title fight will still proceed this Saturday night, Sunday morning for UK fans.