---
title: "Robert Helenius FAILED Pre-Fight Doping Test For Anthony Joshua Fight"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/robert-helenius-anthony-joshua-vada/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kerr Ferguson"
section: "News"
published: "2023-08-25T21:33:51Z"
modified: "2023-08-25T21:33:51Z"
---

# Robert Helenius FAILED Pre-Fight Doping Test For Anthony Joshua Fight

It has been revealed that Robert Helenius failed a pre-fight Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency test prior to his bout with Anthony Joshua, with the results being received today.

[The Finnish fighter was knocked out in the seventh round](https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/home/ArticleId:1sssj3oa636i41cf44doz9alrn) of his bout with Joshua at London’s O2 Arena on August 12 having been drafted in on a week’s notice.

He was required as a replacement as the initial opponent for ‘AJ’, Dillian Whyte, was also found by VADA to have returned adverse findings in a drugs test.

A statement made by Matchroom – eerily similar to the one the promotional company was forced to make for the original headliner – reads as follows:

> Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has informed Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Control that Robert Helenius has returned an adverse analytical finding as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
>
> Helenius was voluntarily tested on Friday, 11 August before the heavyweight fighter’s defeat by Anthony Joshua in London on Saturday, 12 August. The result was made known to Matchroom today.
>
> Matchroom defers to the relevant regulatory authorities on next steps. We vehemently continue to support voluntary anti-doping testing. We are committed to promoting a clean and fair sport for all athletes.
>
> We will not be making any further comment.

Since the fight, Helenius has said that he wished he had more time to train, but doesn’t regret stepping in. [He took Joshua longer than many had expected, bloodying the Brit’s nose before being knocked out cold by a right hand.](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/anthony-joshua-helenius-report/)

More is expected to follow as boxing fans reel from this depressing and all too common news.