British super-bantamweight star Dennis McCann had been due to fight Peter McGrail next weekend
Peter McGrail travelled to Saudi Arabia this afternoon – but it remains to be seen whether he will be fighting next weekend. McGrail had been due to face Dennis McCann on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s huge heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. However, the fight was called off on Friday after it emerged that McCann had provided an adverse analytical finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test. A statement from Queensberry Promotions read: “The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has today informed all relevant parties that Dennis McCann has returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted in advance of his upcoming bout.
“Mr McCann’s scheduled fight next Saturday will no longer take place, as the relevant parties investigate the matter further. No further comment on this will be made at this time.”
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The substance discovered in McCann’s sample and the date it was given have not been revealed. He will now face a full investigation.
The matter is also likely to be referred to the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping, and McCann, who is trained by Joe McNally in Liverpool, will be handed a temporary suspension once an investigation begins.
However, for McGrail, he boarded his flight to Saudi with his team as planned on Saturday afternoon, and the ECHO understands that all options are being explored as Riyadh Season seeks a last-minute replacement.
Taking to social media after the news broke on Friday night, he wrote: “Just to let everyone know that I won’t be commenting on tonight’s events.
“My team and I will be flying to Riyadh tomorrow and i trust that my team, @matchroomboxing , @eddiehearn @franksmith , @daznboxing , and all involved will do their best by me.
“Look forward to seeing @turkialalshik @spencerbrownmrgoldstar @riyadhseason @queensberrypromotions and boxing on December 21st.”
