Dillian Whyte, the heavyweight boxer known as "The Body Snatcher," has once again found himself in hot water over a positive drug test. This marks the second time in his career that Whyte has tested positive for banned substances, raising questions about his future in the sport.
The first incident occurred on October 13, 2012, when Whyte tested positive for methylhexanamine (MHA). He claimed the substance came from a nutritional supplement called Jack3D, which he didn't take intentionally. However, the tribunal, led by chairman Charles Flint, ruled against Whyte.
"It was clearly intended to be a performance-enhancing supplement that an athlete should only take after taking great care to ensure that it does not contain a prohibited substance," Flint stated.
The tribunal found Whyte at fault for not taking proper precautions. Flint explained:
"The athlete took no steps to make any suitable enquiry of his manager or coach, or anyone with medical or anti-doping experience, or the sporting authorities, about whether the supplement was safe to take. A one-minute internet search on Jack3D or its listed ingredient, dimethylamylamine, would have revealed that the product might contain a prohibited substance."
Fast forward to August 2023, and Whyte's career hit another snag. Just days before a scheduled fight with Anthony Joshua at London's O2 Arena, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) reported an "adverse analytical finding" in Whyte's test results. Matchroom Boxing, the promoter, had to cancel the fight.
The news shocked fans who had been looking forward to the rematch between Whyte and Joshua. The investigation into this latest incident is still ongoing, but preliminary findings suggest Whyte might be a victim of a contaminated supplement.
A Sky Sports chief forensic expert reported, "Mr Whyte was the victim of a contaminated supplement which did not disclose [the contaminant] among its ingredients, and did not intentionally ingest [the contaminant]."
Since losing to Tyson Fury in 2022, Whyte has fought four times. The boxer has expressed frustration with the lengthy process of investigation, which has put his career on hold.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in professional boxing regarding banned substances. Athletes must be extremely cautious about what they consume, as even unintentional ingestion can lead to serious consequences for their careers.
As the investigation continues, the boxing world waits to see what this means for Whyte's future in the sport. Will he be able to clear his name and return to the ring, or will this second incident spell the end of his career? Only time will tell.
