Avni Yildirim Comes Up Positive For Banned Substance

[Ruthless-RKO]

By Jake Donovan

A year after David Benavidez was forced to relinquish his super middleweight title in violation of drug testing protocol, yet another controversy involving banned substances now surrounds his first title defense.

It’s not the two-time 168-pound titlist who is guilty of such findings this time around, but his mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim. The veteran contender from Turkey is now on the hot seat after random drug testing through the World Boxing Council (WBC) Clean Boxing Program (CBP) has discovered an adverse finding of the banned substance methylclostebol.

According to a statement released by the WBC, Yildirim (21-2, 12KOs) was tested on Sept. 13 by Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), the Las Vegas-headquartered drug testing agency contracted by the sanctioning body. Findings of the substance in his collected “A” sample were discovered and reported to the WBC on Sept. 26, two days prior to Benavidez’s 9th round stoppage of Anthony Dirrell to regain his super middleweight title.

Yildirim was due to face the winner in the first quarter of 2020, although that status is now in question. The veteran contender is not suspended as neither VADA nor any sanctioning body carry the authority to issue such a punishment.

However, the onus is on Yildirim to explain how the banned substance entered his system or prove an anomaly which can be cleared up by having his “B” sample tested.

The WBC has indicated that “Yildirim and his team voluntarily agreed to hold an immediate evaluation meeting with an expert scientist approved by the WBC to conduct an in-depth analysis of the situation at hand. The WBC considers those steps necessary to achieve a conclusion of the matter consistent with the WBC Rules and Regulations and with the WBC CBP Protocol.”

Methylclostebol is a synthetic, orally-ingested substance that has long been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and VADA.

Benavidez first claimed the WBC super middleweight title following a 12-round points win over Ronad Gavril in Sept. 2017. The close nature of the bout prompted an ordered rematch, which Benavidez (22-0, 19KOs) won in far more convincing fashion last February. It would be the final defense of his first reign as the Phoenix, Arizona native was suspended after having tested positive for cocaine through the same testing protocol last September.

The ruling also forced him to give up his title, which was contended for between Yildirim and Dirrell (33-2-1, 24KOs) this past February. Dirrell claimed a technical decision win when a gruesome cut over his eye from an accidental clash of heads forced the early ending in the 10th round of their vacant title fight.

Yildirim and his team filed an official protest, to which the WBC ordered a Dirrell-Benavidez title fight with the Turkish contender to face the winner.

The ruling came as Benavidez—who turns 23 in December—returned to the ring in March, scoring a 3rd round knockout of J’Leon Love. The win paved the way for his reclamation of the super middleweight crown, with prior expectation that his mandatory defense versus Yildirim would occur during the first quarter of 2020.

That is now officially on hold, as this matter takes precedence, with the WBC to “make an announcement in the near future about the results of its investigation and evaluation, and about the disposition of this matter.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

There goes Benavidez's defense against Avni.

Come on WBC, order Smith vs. Benavidez

[Best Coast]

Good!!

Yildirim's little "Allahu Akbar" temper tantrum in the ring right after losing the technical decision to Dirrell last February was a classic example of 'roid rage!!

[lookingaround87]

Good!!

Yildirim's little "Allahu Akbar" temper tantrum in the ring right after losing the technical decision to Dirrell last February was a classic example of 'roid rage!!

Did he actually say "allahu akbar"?

[Betro09]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It only means God is great. Had he said that or anyone else said that, it wouldn’t have been mentioned..

[lookingaround87]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It's a bit of a weird thing to say in a boxing ring, after a fight. Was it after the decision was read out, and he refused to accept the loss? He probably thought he wasn't given the decision because he's a Muslim.

[siablo14]

Didn't even know that tested positive for cocaine.

[Best Coast]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It's a bit of a weird thing to say in a boxing ring, after a fight. Was it after the decision was read out, and he refused to accept the loss? He probably thought he wasn't given the decision because he's a Muslim.

Good point. Like anything, we have to consider the context in which it was said. Avni definitely seemed to be saying it in anger or protest.

[margaret thatcher]

OMG militant muslim rabble rabble rabble

[Best Coast]

OMG militant muslim rabble rabble rabble

I wouldnt say militant, but definitely angry.

Though not as angry as Mike Tyson when he praised Allah after threatening to "eat Lennox Lewis' children".

[margaret thatcher]

Does islam make them angrier you think? Tbh Ive only known a few muslims and they were all good lads

[Best Coast]

Does islam make them angrier you think? Tbh Ive only known a few muslims and they were all good lads

I've known a few Muslims who were decent folks. Although I dont know this track star personally she doesnt seem angry.

[Betro09]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It only means God is great. Had he said that or anyone else said that, it wouldn’t have been mentioned..

He definetely said that, i heard.

The reason Avni Yıldırım was angry when the fight was stopped, he thought he won by TKO. So he had a huge dissappointment when they went to scorecards.

[Betro09]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It's a bit of a weird thing to say in a boxing ring, after a fight. Was it after the decision was read out, and he refused to accept the loss? He probably thought he wasn't given the decision because he's a Muslim.

No actually, he could have said it after a victory as well, in a cheerful tone of course. I think it was after the scorecards were announced. He won’t think he lose because of being Muslim. He must have thought he treated unfairly being an away Turkish fighter. See, we, most Turks have this kind of feeling when we are abroad, it is probably wrong, yet it is there and isn’t going to change any time soon.

He also said a lot bad words in Turkish as well.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does islam make them angrier you think? Tbh Ive only known a few muslims and they were all good lads

Doesn’t make them angrier.. or me. Sometimes it’s the Arabic language, can make you sound angry tbh, he was most likely angry at the time the fight was stopped. By saying God is great, you’re actually trying to calm yourself down.

[Lairdy]

It's a bit of a weird thing to say in a boxing ring, after a fight. Was it after the decision was read out, and he refused to accept the loss? He probably thought he wasn't given the decision because he's a Muslim.

No actually, he could have said it after a victory as well, in a cheerful tone of course. I think it was after the scorecards were announced. He won’t think he lose because of being Muslim. He must have thought he treated unfairly being an away Turkish fighter. See, we, most Turks have this kind of feeling when we are abroad, it is probably wrong, yet it is there and isn’t going to change any time soon.

He also said a lot bad words in Turkish as well.

I think you're deliberately taking it out of context... Perhaps it's his way of accepting his gods will...

[greg]

..don't think boxing events/venues should be used for all kinds of demonstrations of somebody's political, religious etc. views/affiliations...keep it clean and keep it to yourself...

[Betro09]

No actually, he could have said it after a victory as well, in a cheerful tone of course. I think it was after the scorecards were announced. He won’t think he lose because of being Muslim. He must have thought he treated unfairly being an away Turkish fighter. See, we, most Turks have this kind of feeling when we are abroad, it is probably wrong, yet it is there and isn’t going to change any time soon.

He also said a lot bad words in Turkish as well.

I think you're deliberately taking it out of context... Perhaps it's his way of accepting his gods will...

No, I don’t.

[danconnollyeire]

Yes he did.

But there is no shame in saying that.

It's a bit of a weird thing to say in a boxing ring, after a fight. Was it after the decision was read out, and he refused to accept the loss? He probably thought he wasn't given the decision because he's a Muslim.

Not really, it's the same as Tyson Fury shouting God help me or praying to Jesus or something. Totally normal thing to say in Turkey

[cormack]

probably been to mexico to eat !

[JxhDel.]

He is saving himself from a beating

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Betro09]

So he is found innocent after all.