WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder and title challenger Chris Arreola have both enrolled in an anti-doping program ahead of their July 16 title fight.
Wilder (36-0, 35 KO) will take on Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KO), and both men announced that they'd be participating and are enrolled in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) to administer drug tests as they head towards their world championship fight in less than two weeks.
"Despite the short lead time to Wilder versus Arreola, I am happy to report that VADA is in place as the anti-doping agency in accordance with the WBC Clean Boxing Program," promoter Lou DiBella said of the announcement late last week. "VADA is a preeminent and reliable service and its relationship with the WBC evidences a commitment to a cleaner sport."
Wilder was set to face mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on May 21 in Moscow, Russia, but Povetkin tested positive for meldonium, causing the fight to be pulled. Meldonium has been a hot topic in combat sports of late, as the UFC's Daniel Omielanczuk tested positive for the substance late last month. The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) declined to provisionally suspend him due to questions surrounding meldonium, and he remains scheduled for a July 13 fight for the UFC against Alexey Oleinik.
Wilder and Arreola will compete on Fox on July 16 at 8 PM EST at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Wilder's home-state is Alabama, and this will be the WBC Champion's third fight in the state since June 2015.
