Okolie Fails Drug Test Before Scheduled Paris Showdown with Yoka

British heavyweight Lawrence Okolie has returned an adverse finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test just days before his scheduled bout with France’s Tony Yoka, raising serious uncertainty over the planned fight in Paris.

Promoter Queensberry Promotions confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the test was conducted ahead of the Saturday showdown. The announcement has placed the highly anticipated heavyweight clash in jeopardy.

According to the official statement, VADA notified Queensberry that Okolie’s pre-fight sample returned an “adverse analytical finding,” prompting immediate attention from event organisers. Further updates regarding the status of the fight are expected once the situation is reviewed.

Okolie, who holds a strong professional record and is a former cruiserweight world champion, was preparing for one of the most significant heavyweight tests of his career against Olympic gold medallist Yoka. The contest had been positioned as a potential stepping stone toward world title contention.

Following the announcement, Okolie addressed the situation on social media, stating that he is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and expressing confidence that the matter will be resolved in his favour. He suggested the issue may be linked to treatment he received during training camp following an injury setback.

The British fighter had entered the bout on the back of a win earlier this year and was ranked highly in the heavyweight division, with expectations that victory in Paris could move him closer to a mandatory world title opportunity.

Yoka, meanwhile, was also coming into the fight with momentum after a recent victory, making the matchup a key fixture in the heavyweight boxing calendar.

With investigations now underway, the future of the Paris event remains uncertain as officials assess the findings and determine whether the fight can proceed as scheduled.