Anthony Joshua will face Robert Helenius in a heavyweight fight at the 02 Arena on Saturday night.
The Finnish fighter, who had only fought three days ago, volunteered to step in at the last minute to replace Dillian Whyte, who had “adverse analytical findings” in a pre-fight drugs test.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association announced that it had informed the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that Whyte’s “random anti-doping protocol” had produced the adverse findings.
Helenius boxed last weekend, defeating Mika Mielonen by TKO on Saturday, and will face former unified champion Joshua in a fight on short notice.
“This wasn’t in the script,” Joshua said. “I respect Helenius, and may I say, I respect any male or female who steps into the ring? I am laser-focused on winning. I can take steps forward to bigger and better things, but the road map has a checkpoint on Saturday night. May the best man win”.
The 39-year-old Finn was knocked out in the first round by Wilder last year, although he had earned respectable back-to-back wins against Adam Kownacki. He has a 32-4 (21) record.
“I am excited about fighting Anthony Joshua on August 12,” Helenius said. “I am a true Viking who is willing to face any challenge at a moment’s notice. This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it.”
Although Whyte will not be boxing, he is protesting his innocence. He wrote: “I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me.
“The fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.
“I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by the media.
“I insisted on 24/7 VADA testing for this fight, as I have done voluntarily and at my own expense for all of my fights for many, many years.
“This is not the first time that I have been reported as having an adverse finding for a substance that I have not taken, and as I did last time, I will again prove that I am completely innocent”.
