LUCAS BROWNE claims he was a ‘clean athlete’ when he arrived in Chechnya, Russia prior to his fight with Ruslan Chagaev on March 5.
Browne stopped Chagaev in the 10th round but it has since been revealed that he failed a postfight drugs test when Clenbuterol was found in his system.
Browne maintains his innocence and yesterday released a statement claiming that results from a drugs test prior to the fight came back negative.
“On February 29 shortly after arriving in Chechnya, I was subjected to a randomly timed drug test by VADA (Voluntary Anti Doping Association),” he said.
“This was a test of blood and urine. The post fight test was a urine only test. I would like to again stress it was myself and my team who requested the bout be subject to VADA testing.
“I now hold clear and unequivocal evidence that this test was a negative test and shows clearly that I arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete.
“Following that clean test I ate only at the hotel in which we were hosted and at the meal following the boxers’ media weigh in. The water I drank on the night of the fight was sealed bottled water.”
Browne’s A sample after the fight came back positive for Clenbuterol – predominantly used for fat burning, though is also give to asthma sufferers to help with breathing – and Browne is aware that his B sample is also more than likely to have the same result.
If that occurs, the result of the fight is likely to be changed to a No Contest and he would be looking at some form of ban from the sport.
“I wish to make it clear that I have at this stage no reason to take issue with the VADA testing of me in and around this fight,” he continued.
“Given the result of the A sample I have no reason to believe that the B sample will provide any different results to the A sample.
“My teams’ investigations will now concentrate on the period of time between the clean test on February 29 and the fight itself on March 5. I maintain that I did not knowingly consume any banned substance, including the Clenbuterol found in my system in that time.”
