Unified boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s opponent, Jarrell Miller, has failed a drug test. In response, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSA) has denied “Big Baby” a license to fight on June 1. As such, Joshua vs. Miller is off.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) found an “adverse finding” in a drug-testing sample provided by Miller on March 20. “Big Baby” tested positive for the banned substance GW1516. The NYSA then chose not to grant Miller a license to fight. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, later confirmed this news.
“We have been informed by VADA that there has been an adverse finding in Jarrell Miller’s sample collected on March 20th, 2019. We are working with all relevant parties and will update with more details soon. AJ’s preparation continues for June 1st at MSG.”
Jarrell Miller’s failed drug test opens replacement discussions for Anthony Joshua. Miller was due to fight Joshua for his heavyweight titles on June 1 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Without Miller’s license to fight, the match will not take place.
Jarrell Miller is still training for the fight regardless of the recent developments as per his co-promoter Dmitriy Salita.
He said,
“We are in the process of obtaining further information about VADA’s finding and will have more to say soon on this developing situation, in the meantime, Jarrell continues to train for his June 1 fight against Anthony Joshua.”
We will know more in the days to come. For now Miller’s replacement is under discussion. There are five heavyweight contenders on the shortlist including the likes of Luis Ortiz and Kubrat Pulev.
Dillian Whyte has also put his name in the hat. Interestingly, his only defeat comes at the hands of Joshua, back in 2015.
Despite no known opponent to fight, Joshua is still due to make his U.S. debut according to the plan.
