The information about Helenius’ doping test result made headlines in several British newspapers, among others.
Robert Helenius at the weigh-in before the Anthony Joshua fight on Friday, August 11. Jaakko Dahlbacka
News boxer of Robert Helenius of the positive doping test result has made headlines in several different media. About Helenius’ “unfavorable sample discovery” two weeks ago told messaging service on X (formerly Twitter) Matchroom Boxing.
Voluntary doping testing was carried out on August 11 before the match between the Finnish boxer and the British star Anthony Joshua between. Helenius suffered a knockout loss in the seventh round of the match.
The major media have reported on Helenius’s doping scandal, among others BBC, The Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail and Sky Sports. Also an American giant Sports Illustrated report about it.
– Being knocked out was not the worst, SI writes.
The Sun describes the information as “shocking news”. In the title of the story, possibly due to the double meaning, Helenius’ nickname “Nordic Nightmare” is used as a prefix, which can be translated as, for example, “Nordic nightmare”.
The article states that Helenius jumped in as Joshua’s opponent for the match at the last minute because Joshua’s original opponent Dillian Whyte had given a positive doping sample.
According to the Mirror magazine, Whyte has denied that he used doping substances.
– I am shocked and upset, Whyte commented on his cart.
Old comments
The Daily Mail reports that before Helenius stepped into Whyte’s shoes as Joshua’s opponent, he had said that he would “be lynched in Finland for the rest of his life for a similar rant”.
– Of course it’s a problem, because I don’t think everyone is at the same level. Some people have privileges that others don’t, Helenius had said.
– I think anti-doping should be at the same level in every mass. For example, in Great Britain, when Dillian gets caught for doping, everyone thinks it’s “just boxing” and no one cares.
Helenius also suspected that he would no longer be allowed to box in Finland at all if he was caught in the test.
Before the match Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn praised the Finnish boxer for accepting the match offer at short notice.
– We want someone credible, who would come to fight, and with whom we would be able to make a deal quickly, Hearn said.
So far, Helenius has not commented on the information that has come to light.