By Yuri Tarantin

According to Russian promoter Andrei Ryabinsky, there will be strict drug testing when WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder makes his mandatory defense against Olympic gold medal winner and former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin.

Ryabinsky, is planning to stage the fight on May 21 in Moscow, Russia. He secured the promotional rights by winning last month's WBC purse bid with a submitted amount of $7.1 million.

Wilder has made three successful defenses of the title since winning it last January with a twelve round decision over Bermane Stiverne. This past January at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Wilder knocked out Artur Szpilka in nine rounds. Povetkin and Ryabinsky traveled over to sit ringside and watch Wilder live.

In an earlier article - Jay Deas, who is the co-manager and co-trainer of Wilder, discussed his desire to have Povetkin agree to a drug testing protocol. The World Boxing Council has recently started working very closely with VADA [Voluntary Anti-Doping Association] to test boxers who are involved in championship fights.

"The WBC has achieved a lot of success in testing for [banned substances] in collaboration with VADA. Boxing is a dangerous sport, and all fighters need to be sure that they are on equal footing. Deontay Wilder is certainly willing to pass all the tests of the most professional and advanced laboratories in the world, such as VADA. We hope that Povetkin will join us and agree to undergo stringent doping tests, to show the world that in this sport the athletes at the highest level are completely clean," Deas told Boxing News Ukraine.

No problem, says Ryabinsky

"Without a doubt, there will be serious doping tests for both boxers," Ryabinsky stated. "And I do not recommend for Deontay's team to give him any dope."

Wilder has an unbeaten record of 36 wins (35 by KO), and Povetkin has 30 wins (22 by KO) and one defeat.

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru