Heavyweight Boxer Robert Helenius Banned Months After Losing To Anthony Joshua

Finnish heavyweight boxer, Robert Helenius has been banned from professional boxing for two years months after facing Anthony Joshua.

Robert Helenius was initially suspended from boxing after testing positive for a performance-enhancement substance, clomifene.

The UK Anti-Doping Agency found this chemical substance in his body following his defeat to Anthony Joshua at London’s O2 Arena in August 2023. Recall that Joshua knocked out the 40-year-old Finish boxer in the 7th round of the bout.

During the hearing of the failed drug test, Helenius said he was innocent as he claimed that the clomifene which was found in his body was from eggs and chicken meat he ate before he faced Joshua.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t prove that the chemical found in his system came from eggs and chicken meat according to the UK Anti-Doping Agency.

The agency said: “Mr Helenius was unable to provide evidence that eggs and chicken he had consumed in advance of the bout originated from hens that had been administered clomifene.

“He was therefore unable to identify the source of clomifene in his Sample and therefore unable to reduce the applicable period of Ineligibility of two years.”

Hence, he was banned from the sport for two years. The ban starts counting from September 18, 2023 (the date he was first suspended) to midnight of September 17, 2025.