– I’m a little shocked, Robert Helenius says to Urheilu.
Helenius found out about the doping suspicion on the night between Friday and Saturday. The promoter company Matchroom Boxing, which organized his professional boxing match, announced at the time that the doping sample given by Helenius contained deviations that indicate a doping finding.
– Last night I received information that I have given a positive doping sample, and I don’t really know what the issue is. Because I have always considered myself honest and have not spent anything, even if there were opportunities for anything, says Helenius.
– Why would I do it now in the final stage?
– It feels a bit like that… I don’t know. It’s too early to say anything. It could be that there are some food substances or dietary supplements, that there are ambiguities. I don’t really know what to say. Yes, I’m in shock.
What is your top feeling right now?
– Yes, we’ve been thinking a lot about what it could be about and what the mood is, Helenius says and takes a break.
– Quite tired. I’ve been trying to be somehow normal here, but yes, this is difficult.
According to Urheilu, Helenius is suspected of using a so-called estrogen blocker. It is only a matter of doubt at this point. Helenius has not been sentenced to disciplinary sanctions for a doping violation, and the content of his sample has not yet been interpreted as a doping violation in the legal sense of the matter.
Helenius says that he does not know more about the contents of the sample.
– There was some medicine in it somewhere. I still haven’t really figured it out. I have a good team to figure these things out, what’s the issue and stuff.
– I can say with one hundred percent certainty that I have not intentionally taken anything illegal, says Helenius.
Where did the substance end up in the body?
The boxer says that during his 27-year boxing career, he has been very careful about what he has put in his mouth and learned about nutritional supplements.
Do you know of any nutritional supplements from which a potential ingredient could have ended up in your sample?
– I’ve heard, we’ll see. When they figure it out more, and from where, I can give more. I can’t really comment terribly at this point. Hard to say.
Any idea how such a substance could have ended up in your sample?
– I’ve heard stories that in the big world things like that can happen, that you try to secure a profit for someone else and so on.
– Not me. I don’t want to start speculating about anything like that. It remains to be seen.
“I can swear with my heart”
Helenius hopes that his team will get all the necessary information and be able to dispute the case in all aspects. He still assures that he has not taken a prohibited substance.
– I don’t understand what it could even be about. I don’t know if there are new things.
Can you honestly say that you are a hundred percent clean athlete?
– I can swear with my heart that I am a clean athlete, Helenius said in a clearly moved state.
Helenius met the British star Anthony Joshua in London on August 12. The fee for the super match has been estimated to be around half a million euros. Helenius did not comment on whether this may have an impact on the match fee.
– I cannot comment.
Is money uppermost in your mind?
– It’s not.
– We will do everything we can to clear my name. I now hope that the media and others will also take responsibility for this. However, I have a family and stuff.
Information by email on Friday evening
Helenius’ manager Robert Sundman tells Urheilu that he received an email from the organizing body on Friday from around 10:30 p.m. The organizers announced the matter to the public after midnight.
Helenius says that he would have liked to have known about it earlier.
– It’s not pleasant. I would probably have liked to have received that information earlier before it was published. But…
– I do not know. What do they see as right? They probably aren’t interested in a little Finnish boxer.
You are known as an upright and honest athlete and you are a role model for many young people. What kind of experience is this for you and your image as an honest Viking?
– Yes, I would have liked to keep it there. However, I will turn 40 next year. I wouldn’t have expected this. Sometimes life takes and sometimes life gives.
Sundman was shocked
Helenius’ manager Sundman finds the situation shocking. He says that he watched and wondered about it all night.
– I’ve been awake all night wondering what this is and what could be causing it. I can’t say more about the substance. I know it’s not a steroid, it’s not testosterone, it’s something else. It will work out then.
Sundman wants to clarify the matter with the anti-doping agency Vada and the UK anti-doping organization Ukad (Suek in Finland). Vada was testing the fighters according to the contract between Helenius and Joshua.
Sundman emphasizes that he wants to know more about the matter and hear how it is possible that the substance ended up in Helenius’ body.
– Of course, we will do everything we can to clear Robbe’s name. He has always been a pure athlete and really proud of it.
– This is really important to him. He’s completely distracted. Of course everyone would.
Sundman wants to explore everything with a doctor
Sundman and Helenius say that the Finnish boxer was tested several times during the week with blood and urine tests.
– Now I want them all here. We have received this one result from this urine test. Now I want them all so I can put them on the table, look at them together with the doctor and conclude what and when it happened.
Sundman also did not want to comment on how the matter might affect the match fee.
– I’m not talking about the reward. And I don’t know.
– Robbe is innocent. That’s the first thing. We are working on it. It hasn’t even been talked about.
According to Sundman, no disciplinary orders have been presented to Helenius’ team in connection with the matter.
– Nothing. Nothing has been discussed yet. There is basically no contact other than e-mail until now.