DILLIAN WHYTE will not make his boxing comeback on Anthony Joshua’s Saudi Arabia undercard as his doping case will not be dropped in time.
The Brixton heavyweight was called into a hearing on the morning of his July 20 points win over Oscar Rivas, after red flags were found in his system, but was cleared by UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control to fight.
The Body Snatcher and promoter Eddie Hearn faced a backlash for not informing Rivas but no rules were broken and 31-year-old has been clear to fight while the case has remained open.
Hearn was open to having the 26-1 star on the undercard of AJ’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr on December 7 – which could be moved if the terror threat in Saudi Arabia is raised.
But he will now wait until the investigation is closed, hopefully before November, leaving little room to build a return fight.
The Matchroom boss said: “Dillian and his team are trying to get UKAD to close this case and come out with a statement. He can fight tomorrow but I’m sick on answering questions about it.
“I would sooner be in a position where they come out and say ‘this is what happened, this is the ruling, we’re good to go’.
“But there is a procedure and it is not Dillian Whyte trying to slow down that procedure. You have seen before how long it takes.
“I am being told it will be dealt with by the end of October. I think media, broadcasters and fans would prefer some kind of statement at least.
“I don’t think he will fight on the Saudi card.
“Saudi looks like Alexander Povetkin vs Michael Hunter. Maybe Liam Smith against Jessie Vargas. Scott Quigg against Jono Carroll and Filip Hrgovic against someone. Then one other fight.”
Whyte reached a 10-fight win streak and named the WBC interim champion with the Rivas win at the O2.
But the WBC suspended his status as their mandatory challenger for Deontay Wilder’s title until the final decision is revealed.
And the straight-talking fans’ favourite has had to bite his tongue and keep quiet for the sake of the case.
Hearn said: “I feel a little bit sorry for Dillian Whyte. He wants to say things but he can’t, because if he does it will affect his case with UKAD.
“Effectively there is nothing to hear. They have heard the case and he has been cleared to fight.
“Now it is a case of going through the procedure and saying to them, ‘do you need any further information from us? If so, here it is’”.
