Despite Alexander Povetkin’s past issues with failed drug tests aren’t enough to prevent him from challenging for a pair of international titles.
According to promoter Andriy Ryabinsky, Povetkin has been cleared by both the WBA and WBO, reinstating him back into their official rankings. The reinstatement also ensures that Povetkin can now challenge for the WBA and WBO International Heavyweight titles when he faces Andriy Rudenko on July 1 in Russia.
"Povetkin will be boxing [in the next years] for sure," Ryabinsky told Russain News Agency TASS. "The World Boxing Council (WBC) is starting to hear out our side of the story, and I think they will take some measures, but there are no timelines. Povetkin has been reinstated in the WBA and WBO, and the titles are on the line [in the fight against Andrey Rudenko]. Povetkin will rejoin the International Boxing Federation (IBF), as well as in the WBC. We are gradually winning this fight."
Failed drug tests in the past prevented Povetkin the opportunity from fighting in world title fights. Povetkin failed a drug test last year which canceled his mandatory title opportunity against WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.
Povetkin was then booked for a vacant WBC interim title fight late last year against Bermane Stiverne, but Povetkin also tested positive for ostarine, an anabolic steroid. Stiverne no longer wanted to fight Povetkin and so Povetkin fought Johann Duhaupas on less than two weeks’ notice. Povetkin then knocked out Duhaupas on December 12.
Povetkin is a former WBA World Heavyweight Champion, but lost his title in his lone pro career loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013. Povetkin has won all five fights since the loss via stoppage.
