'Russian boxer Povetkin's alternative doping tests clean'

Russian boxer Aleksandr Povetkins alternative doping tests at a laboratory in Lausanne have yielded controversial results, World of Boxing promotion company Director Andrey Ryabinsky has said.

Ryabinsky said an independent examination of Povetkin's A and B urine samples were done and both the samples came out clean.

"We have the results of alternative tests from another laboratory, the one in Lausanne. The probe samples are clean," he said.

A probe of Povetkin's B sample urine recently tested positive for banned drug Ostarine, just as A sample did earlier. Both samples were taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and opened at a laboratory in Los Angeles. After VADA announced the results of the tests Ryabinsky ensured another examination of Povetkin's samples in a Switzerland lab.

Ostarine, also known as MK-2866, or Enobosarm, is a Selective Androgen Receptor Module (SARM), used to avoid and treat muscle wasting. Just like anabolic steroids, it enhances endurance. SARM substances were outlawed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2008.

The World Boxing Council refused to approve of a fight between Povetkin and Canada's Bermane Stiverne on December 6 after Povetkin's probe tested positive for Ostarine. However, samples taken on December 13 and 15 were negative.

Ryabinsky said it takes Ostarine more than 12 months to leave the human body, which is a reason enough to call in question the results of tests.

Also, Ryabinsky speculated that the outlawed substance might have been taken by Povetkin unknowingly together with daily meals or sports nutrition products.

--IANS

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