WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has revealed that former super-middleweight title challenger Jesse Hart and heavyweight contender Michael Hunter have been notified of VADA whereabouts violations under the governing body’s ‘Clean Boxing Program’.
In a tweet sent on Wednesday afternoon, Sulaiman alleges both men failed to notify VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) of a change to their whereabouts, and subsequently missed a random test.
“The collector attempt was yesterday.” Sulaiman told Boxing Social.
“All boxers are responsible to notify VADA of any changes in their whereabouts, precisely to avoid a missed test. We believe in fighters honourability. However, the reason of the CBP (Clean Boxing Program) is to have random, surprise testing to eligible fighters in the WBC rankings and those who voluntarily enrol.
“The CBP and VADA work very hard 365 days a year, 24 hours a day and there are many fighters who believe in clean boxing. There are many managers and trainers as well and there are exemplary promoters who contract out of competition testing testing year around.
“Once there is a missed test, a protocol begins to determine what exactly happened on each specific case and the CBP committee analyses the situation and makes a ruling.”
With Hart and Hunter ranked at #5 and #7 respectively by the WBC, both fighters are required to make themselves available for year-round testing in order to maintain their ranking with the governing body.
Hunter, long thought of as an avoided man at heavyweight, is reportedly just days away from an announcement for a bout with unbeaten Croatian Filip Hrgović, following lengthy negotiations between the two camps.
Due to the proposed bout with Hrgović being sanctioned as an official eliminator by the IBF, it is unlikely that the violation will have any impact on the fight. With a source close to negotiations claiming the bout “was not a WBC matter” and, in turn, the findings would not be recognised by the IBF.
32-year-old Hunter took to Twitter to deny any wrongdoing, hitting out at Sulaiman and the findings from the Clean Boxing Program and appearing to suggest a lack of honesty on the part of the WBC and the CBP.
Boxing Social are currently awaiting comment from Michael Hunter, the IBF and Wasserman Boxing supremo Kalle Sauerland and will update the story with any further developments.
Feature image: World Boxing Council (WBC)