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Billy Joe Saunders will have to wait until late next year to challenge for his old world title.

The former middleweight champion vacated his WBO belt when he failed a drugs test last month and has been slapped with a six-month ban by the organisation.

The suspension means he cannot compete for the WBO belt but does not stop him fighting.

Saunders tested positive for the drug Oxilofrine - which he blamed on a decongestant nasal spray - and saw the defence of his title against Demetrius Andrade cancelled.

(Image: PA)

Andrade instead fought - and beat - Walter Kautondokwa to win the vacant belt as Saunders missed out on a $2million pay day.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel said: “Everything has a good ending.

“Billy Joe sent us a public apology. We issued a resolution. He was suspended for six months.

“He has to do community work, work with young people. If you are going to be a champ you have to do things from the heart.

“Three months after his suspension we can consider if he will go into the ratings/if he will be reinstated.

(Image: The Canadian Press)

“The information I have so far is that he started well and he is complying with what we asked of him. But he must continue. He must see this through. If this is not sustainable he will not be in the ratings.

“We want champions that will be good. That will be role models to future generations. If not we don’t want you.”

Saunders is licenced by the British Boxing Board of Control who will not take action over the test as it was out of compeition.

They did fine the 29-year-old £100,000 in September after a video emerged of him offering a woman drugs in exchange for a sex act.

Saunders was last in action when he impressively outpointed David Lemieux last December.