By Chris Williamson

Following Boxingscene.com's exclusive interview with Andrey Ryabinskiy, promoter of Alexander Povetkin, the World Boxing Council (WBC) mandatory heavyweight contender, I asked WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman to clarify details relating to their investigation following Povetkin's adverse April 27 Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test and discussed plans to extend the WBC Clean boxing program to include the top 15 in each division.

Sulaiman confirmed Mr Ryabinskiy's assertion that the bout is “postponed” and not “cancelled” as has been widely reported in what Ryabinskiy colourfully refered to as “the yellow (disreputable) press”.

The WBC has granted heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder one voluntary defence and assembled a “Clean Boxing Program Emergency Committee” to continue investigating in line with what the WBC refers to as the “process outlined by the Rules and Regulations and protocols corresponding to the specific case of Alexander Povetkin”.

VADA administered the test on April 27 2016 which showed an adverse result for meldonium, a recently banned substance. It's the contention of Ryabinskiy that Povetkin stopped taking meldonium in September 2015 following confirmation of its addition to the banned list, which became effective on January 1 2016.

Ryabinskiy refered to the levels of meldonium found as “trace” and remains confident his fighter will be cleared by the investigation. The test result led to the scheduled bout between Wilder and Povetkin in Moscow, Russia on May 21, 2016 being postponed, a decision made by the WBC.

I asked Sulaiman if the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or other agency is now involved in the investigation.

He said: “The WBC Clean Boxing Program has VADA administer the program and they are responsible for all collection and testing of samples at WADA credited labs. Once there is an adverse finding (a positive result ) then the WBC takes over to handle the due process.”

Therefore the WBC are responsible for handling this phase of the process. Mr Sulaiman declined to comment on the “speculative” question of whether, assuming Povetkin is cleared, the original purse bid won by Ryabinskiy remains valid.

The WBC has recently announced a further extension of its “Clean Boxing Program” to include random testing for each of the top 15 boxers. I asked Mr Sulaiman to expand on this and whether it is in place for all divisions. “Yes, all divisions,” he answered.

“We are in the process of registering all fighters in the database which is a process done by VADA , it will be for 90 days from May 5th.”