How long is Billy Joe Saunders banned for and has British boxer been stripped of his WBO middleweight title?
The 29-year-old was due to defend his middleweight crown against Demetrius Andrade on October 20 in Boston
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS was set to defend his WBO world middleweight title in Boston.
But the unbeaten star will not fight Demetrius Andrade over the pond after being denied a boxing licence for failing a drugs test in August.
How long is Billy Joe Saunders banned?
THERE is currently no outright boxing ban on Billy Joe.
But he was denied a licence to box in America and therefore will not defend his world middleweight title against Andrade in Boston as planned on October 20.
He failed a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test back in August, but maintains his innocence after his B-sample came back clear.
'Superb' was refused a license by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission but will contest the decision.
Saunders has insisted that he is a “clean fighter to the bone”, whilst his promoter Frank Warren maintains that his fighter tested positive for the oxilofrine after using a “common decongestant nasal spray”.
Has he been stripped of his WBO middleweight title?
SAUNDERS has voluntarily vacated the WBO belt and with it his world title.
Andrade will now face the next-ranked Namibian Walter Kautondokwa for the vacant title.
Warren revealed: "Because of the mental anguish brought about by this case and out of respect for the WBO, Billy Joe will with a heavy heart relinquish his world title, whilst this issue is in the process of being resolved."
Saunders has a perfect 26-0 record but has been hit with controversy in recent months, including taunting a drug addict in a viral video for which was fined £100,000.