Former World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) Heavyweight Champion Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KO’s), of Las Vegas, Nevada, has elected not to face #1 ranked contender Alexander Povetkin, (30-1-0, 22 KO’s) today after Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine and the World Boxing Council withdrew their recognition of the fight.

The positive test reported by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association was revealed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman on Saturday morning local time.

Said Stiverne, “There’s no reason to fight if the WBC won’t sanction the bout, I’m very disappointed in the actions of Povetkin. I’ve been training for months to be victorious.”

“To wake up the day of the fight, have breakfast, take a nap and wake up to find out he tested positive is the worst possible situation.“I’m headed back home to Las Vegas, hopefully the WBC will install me as the mandatory challenger to face (current WBC Heavyweight World Champion) Deontay Wilder. I want the opportunity to fight for the world title again, that was my whole reason to come to Russia was to earn that opportunity.”

The winner of Povetkin vs. Stiverne, contested for the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title, would have become the mandatory challenger for Wilder as declared previously by the WBC.

Stiverne lost a 12-round unanimous decision and the WBC Heavyweight Title to Wilder on January 17, 2015 in Las Vegas.