Australia's Lucas Browne, who was stripped of a heavyweight world title belt following a positive drug test earlier this year, has enrolled in the WBC's Clean Boxing Program, which is overseen by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, as he continues to insist that he did not knowingly take any banned substances.
"I'm proud to announce that I am now part of the Clean Boxing Program, which is being run by the WBC and VADA," Browne said. "By voluntarily enrolling in this program I am able to be randomly (blood or urine) tested at any time, 365 days of the year."
Browne, 37, rallied for a 10th-round knockout of Ruslan Chagaev on March 5 in Grozny, Russia, to win the WBA's secondary world title, making him the first Australian to win a heavyweight title. However, Browne's "A" and "B" samples both tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance, after the fight, and he was eventually stripped of the belt and suspended for six months by the WBA.
Browne has maintained all along that he never knowingly took a banned substance, and he and his team believe his food or water was spiked while he was in hostile territory for the fight. He was randomly tested by VADA when he arrived in Grozny and that test came back negative.
Browne (24-0, 21 KOs, although the win against Chagaev could be changed to a no-contest) said enrolling in the WBC's new program was an easy decision to make.
"I have absolutely no issues with this, as I am a clean athlete and I believe boxing needs this kind of regulation," Browne said. "I welcome this aspect of safety for the sport of boxing. I despise all drugs, whether they be performance-enhancing or recreational.
"Having always been a clean athlete, I am totally opposed to any form of doping. I've always felt that cheaters in professional boxing should be banned for life. With 21 KOs in my 21 victories, I'm of the same opinion as [heavyweight titleholder] Deontay Wilder -- if I was ever to use PEDs, I might end up killing someone."
Matt Clark, who manages Browne, said that he hopes by becoming Australia's first fighter to volunteer for the program it will start a trend.
"Lucas is Australia's premier boxer and resents drugs of any kind," Clark said. "We hope that other fighters from around the world join Lucas and sign up for the program. Anything that makes boxing safer is a good thing."