Ironically, Miller had accused Joshua of using PED’s during their media tour.
With over a month away from the Anthony Joshua vs. Jarrell Miller fight, Miller has tested positive for a banned substance.
According to multiple reports, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) recorded an adverse finding in a March 20th drug test. Miller has tested positive for the banned substance GW1516.
GW1516 works by forcing the skeletal muscle to use fat rather than carbohydrates as an energy source. Used by some for fat loss, in the context of athletic enhancement, GW1516 also has benefits as an endurance aid.
WADA has warned athletes of health risks connected to the drug, which in early trials caused cancer in laboratory mice.
Ironically, Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs), 30, had accused Joshua of using PEDs during their media tour to announce the fight in February.
“We are in the process of obtaining further information about VADA’s finding and will have more to say soon on this developing situation,” said Miller’s promoter Dmitriy Salita via Instagram. “In the meantime Jarrell continues to train for his June 1st fight against Anthony Joshua.”
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, also acknowledged the positive test.
“We have been informed by VADA that there has been an adverse finding in Jarrell Miller’s sample collected on March 20th, 2019,” Hearn said in a statement. “We are working with all relevant parties and will update with more details soon. AJ’s preparation continues for June 1st at MSG.”
New York State Doesn’t Play With Boxing
The New York State Athletic Commission is known for revoking fight licenses based on these types of infractions. As recently as December 22, Willie Monroe Jr. was due to challenge interim middleweight world titlist Jermall Charlo at the Barclays Center until he tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
The commission would not license him, and Charlo faced late replacement Matt Korobov instead.
This is not Miller’s first time with a PED issue. As a kickboxer for GLORY back in 2014, Miller was suspended for nine months by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) for testing positive for methylhexaneamine (dimethylamylamine).
Miller will have to face a disciplinary hearing with the NYSAC which will determine if he faces Joshua. If he doesn’t, he will lose his biggest payday to date of $4.875 million. He also was scheduled to earn a percentage of the profits from UK based Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view.
Miller’s deal also has two comeback fights worth $1.5 million apiece if he loses to Joshua. Needless to say, this would be a great loss for a promising star.
