British heavyweight star fails drug test before major fight

21 Apr 2026 • 4:41 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

British heavyweight star fails drug test before major fight

  • British heavyweight star Lawrence Okolie has failed a drug test, Queensberry Promotions has confirmed.
  • The promotional company announced the news on Tuesday morning, stating that they had been informed on Monday night that Okolie had “returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test”.
  • Former cruiserweight and bridgerweight world champion Okolie was due to be fighting 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka in a heavyweight clash on Saturday night in Paris.
  • Queensberry concluded their statement by telling fans that “a further update regarding the event will be made in due course”.
  • Okolie has a 23-1 professional record and has won all three of his fights since moving into the heavyweight division.

IN FULL