Heavyweight professional boxer of Robert Helenius, 39, had his world shattered on August 26. It had been two weeks since the former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua knocked out Helenius violently in the seventh round of the match in London.
Then Helenius and his team were knocked out again with a nightly e-mail message, in which it was announced that the doping sample he gave in connection with the weigh-in in London contained breast cancer medicine and clomiphene (Clomifen) used in the treatment of infertility.
Robert Helenius’ manager Markus Sundman is the first to confirm to Urheilu that the drug clomiphene was found in the doping sample given by Helenius on August 11 in London, instead of letrozole, which was previously reported publicly.
Helenius was repeatedly tested in London by two different doping authorities VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) and UKAD (UK Anti-Doping).
Helenius gave several blood and urine samples before and after the match in London.
Organizer of the event Matchroom Boxing published on social media at the end of August that Helenius was cleared of doping only a few hours after the email sent to Helenius and his manager.
Helenius and his background team said that the news of the clomiphene discovery came as a complete surprise. Helenius has been tested numerous times during his long career, and no indications of doping have ever been detected before. Helenius and his team continue to assert that they are absolutely innocent regarding the use of doping.
Clomiphene was first detected during the analysis of a urine test by VADA. Helenius gave a urine sample during the weigh-in on Friday, August 11 in London.
What the heck is clomiphene?
How is it possible that a substance called clomiphene was found in Helenius’ urine sample?
According to manager Markus Sundman, the possible reason for the increased concentration and clomiphene discovery can be found in Helenius’ extreme diet.
– We do not understand how this substance could have entered Robert’s body. We have investigated the matter with several experts and a possible explanatory factor at this stage is his diet, assures Sundman.
The breast cancer drug clomiphene is an antiestrogen that works by binding to the estrogen receptor. By binding to the estrogen receptor, clomiphene increases pituitary luteinizing hormone, which affects testicular testosterone production. In women, clomiphene prevents the effect of estrogen, i.e. the growth of breast cancer. The so-called aromatase inhibitors are the most used in the treatment of breast cancer.
Clomiphene has been reported to increase testosterone levels in men, but according to several experts, the performance benefits of clomiphene in sports are very marginal, especially at the concentrations found in Helenius’ sample.
The use of clomiphene as a doping agent is only mainly related to preventing the disadvantages of using testosterone, preventing mammary hyperplasia.
In the first analyzed so-called A sample of the test conducted by VADA for Helenius, an elevated concentration of clomiphene was found, according to the information we have received, nothing else indicating the use of doping has been found in the analyzes of Helenius’ blood or urine samples. No indications of the use of anabolic steroids or testosterone have been found in the samples either.
Based on VADA’s test findings, the second part of Helenius’ urine sample, the so-called B sample, was examined by VADA in a laboratory in Utah, USA. The analysis of the B sample also did not bring any new information regarding the detected substances or concentrations.
Investigation of the case in progress
Helenius and his supporters have demanded all the results of the doping tests conducted by VADA and UKAD for themselves, in order to get clarity on the case and to be able to prove their innocence. The results of the analysis of the tests carried out by UKAD have been awaited for a long time. Now the results have come and Helenius has made a match with his team to solve the case.
Helenius’ Manager Sundman does not yet agree to comment on the details of the case in more detail. We don’t want to jeopardize the ongoing case under any circumstances.
– The investigation of this special case is still in progress, and we cannot say more at this stage, says Sundman.
An almost similar doping case rocked the world of professional boxing a year ago. Top boxer Conor Benn gave a positive sample for clomiphene in the same test conducted by VADA under the match. The British boxer managed to at least partially clear his name by explaining that the elevated values were due to eating eggs. Benn received a license to fight in the United States.
There has been a lot of news about Helenius’ extraordinary diet. The two-meter-long lion follows a diet rich in proteins and fats. Helenius can easily eat 20-30 eggs and a kilo of meat a day, to get enough protein.
Are the elevated clomiphene concentrations observed in Helenius’s doping samples also due to eating chicken eggs?
– At this stage of this process, I cannot take a position on this matter, says Sundman.
UKAD is the official national body responsible for doping control in Great Britain under the international anti-doping agency WADA. VADA does not have direct sanctioning rights. VADA’s task is to carry out doping control and deliver test results.
Further investigations and documentation of the Helenius case will apparently be directed primarily to the competent UKAD. UKAD and BBBoC (British Boxing Board of Control) will ultimately decide on possible sanctions. These are time-consuming and complex processes that understandably do not want to be jeopardized before final decisions are made. For Robert Helenius, who turns 40 in January, every day is important for the possible continuation of his career.
Professional boxing does not fall under the umbrella of the international anti-doping agency WADA, so a possible competition ban would apparently only apply to events organized in Great Britain, of course the Finnish Professional Boxing Association might also have a say in the matter.