Connor Coyle has been suspended until November
Northern Ireland middleweight Connor Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs) has been suspended until at least November 14 unless he can prove he is a clean athlete after he returned an adverse finding following his draw with American Vito Mielnicki in February.
The undefeated 35-year-old from Derry was also fined $10,000 and forced to hand back 20% of his fight purse, which will be returned to the event promoter, Top Rank.
The result has officially been changed from a Majority Draw to a No Contest by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Coyle and Mielnicki were challenging for three vacant belts – IBF USBA, WBC USA, and WBO International middleweight titles.
NYSAC Statement
“The New York State Athletic Commission (Commission) has reached a settlement with Connor Coyle following his bout on February 14th in New York State,” a NYSAC representative told BoxingScene in a provided statement. “Since the bout, Connor Coyle had been under suspension by the State Athletic Commission.
“Under the terms of the Consent Order, Mr. Coyle is subject to the following actions:
1. The Majority Draw decision has been changed to an official ‘no-contest’;
2. A fine of $10,000.00 has been imposed;
3. A portion of his purse has been forfeited;
4. He is required to provide three clean urinalyses demonstrating fitness to compete from a WADA-accredited lab; and,
5. His New York State professional boxer license will be suspended until at least November 14, 2025, and until such time as he completes all the aforementioned requirements.”
Former NABA middleweight champion, Coyle was originally facing a one-year suspension, but his legal team contacted the NYSAC to request reconsideration, which was ultimately granted, in part, due to his cooperation on the matter.
Derry’s Coyle failed to disclose any medication or supplements ingested prior to the bout, a violation of New York Codes Rules and Regulations. He also vowed to rectify the existing violation per the terms of the ruling.
During his suspension, NI’s Coyle will be required to submit three clean testing samples in random intervals, to be completed no later than October 10, 2025. The first sample must be submitted within 30 days of the ruling that was issued to Coyle on August 11.
The second and third urinalyses must be performed at a considerable distance to confirm that he is a clean fighter throughout the process. The final sample can be submitted for collection as early as September 20 but no later than October 10.
Despite the specified nine-month period, Coyle will remain under suspension, ineligible to fight, until all terms are satisfied to NYSAC standards.
The 10-round championship contest with Coyle marked Mielnicki’s debut at middleweight, after campaigning at 154lbs for three years.
The 23-year-old youngster from North Jersey understandably did not respond well to the news of his opponent’s positive drug test.
“Connor Coyle suspended indefinitely for failed drug test,” Mielnicki posted on his social media channels. “Cheated the sport, cheated yourself, and STILL couldn’t beat me. Was a majority draw on paper (idk how) but still wasn’t on my level.
“Respect the sport, real fighters don’t need shortcuts! #CleanSport.”
Mielnicki (20-1, 12 KOs, 1 NC), returned to the ring on June 21 in a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Poland’s Kamil Gardzielik to win three vacant straps – IBF USBA, IBO Americas and the WBC USA middleweight titles. Their ESPN+ headliner also took place at MSG Theater and saw ‘White Magic’ win every round on all three scorecards.
It was Mielnicki’s third consecutive fight at MSG Theater and fourth bout under Top Rank, with whom he signed last summer. He is now unbeaten in his last 14 contests. His sole career defeat came via a close majority decision to Jason Martin in April 2021, less than a month before his 19th birthday.