Lucas Browne baffled by failed drugs test

Omnisports

March 22, 2016 2:11 AM

WBA heavyweight champion Lucas Browne is at a loss to explain how he could have failed a drugs test for a substance he has never heard of.

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Lucas Browne has vowed to clear his name after a failed drugs test which has left the WBA heavyweight champion "shocked and devastated".

The 36-year-old Australian tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol after stopping Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny, Chechnya this month.

But Browne was left baffled by the news and insists he is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

"I would like to assure all fans, the whole of the boxing world and all of Australia that I am not a drug user or a drug cheat," Browne said.

"The news of this positive test has shocked and devastated me and I will be fighting for as long as it takes to clear my name.

"Prior to today I had not heard of the drug clenbuterol and had no idea what it was used for. I am now aware it is essentially a weight-stripping drug and as a heavyweight boxer the idea of me using it is utterly ridiculous.

"I am a staunch long-time opponent of any drug use, performance-enhancing or otherwise.

"My team and I were well aware of the many risks involved in going to a place like Chechnya to fight a reigning champion and believed we had taken sufficient precautions. In addition it was at our insistence that the VADA testing was implemented for the fight."

A statement from Browne's management team, Hatton Promotions, said: "Ricky Hatton and Hatton Promotions were made aware on Monday night that Lucas Browne delivered a positive A sample drug test following his world title win over Ruslan Chagaev.

"We believe strongly that boxing should be free from performance enhancing drugs. We believe Lucas Browne to be a clean athlete who arrived in Chechnya a clean athlete.

"We are therefore conducting our own further investigation and cannot comment further at this time."

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