The WBA recently announced that former world champion Lucas Browne had been given a shot at a world title after his six-month suspension coming from a failed drug test earlier this year.
In a document released by the WBA on September 6, the world sanctioning body stated that Browne will be reinstated in its top five rankings and that he must face leading contender Fres Oquendo for the vacant WBA heavyweight title within 120 days.
The organization said in a statement that it was “unlikely Browne intentionally or voluntarily ingested clenbuterol in a single dose in the days leading up to the bout as the amount would not have gained any advantage.”
Browne had been stripped of the secondary WBA heavyweight title he won from Ruslan Chagaev earlier this year and banned for six months following a failed drug test. That result was later changed to a no contest.
Browne’s “A sample” test contained clenbuterol, but testing done before Browne arrived to Russia for the fight against Chagaev came out clean for Browne. The six-month sentence was the minimum sentence for an offense like this. Clenbuterol is predominantly used for fat burning, though is also give to asthma sufferers to help with breathing.
The undefeated 37-year-old has won various regional and intercontinental championships before moving onto to the world title scene. He also was a pro MMA fighter, amassing a 6-2 record, fighting Daniel Cormier in 2010 and previously won the XMMA Heavyweight Championship.
