DC Commission to WBC: Lucian Bute failed doping test

WASHINGTON – Montreal boxer Lucian Bute says he is “surprised and saddened” to learn he had failed a doping test after his super middleweight title bout against Badou Jack.

The World Boxing Council said Thursday that the D.C. Boxing and Wrestling commission revealed it found the banned substance Ostarine.

“I don’t understand what could have led to a positive test,” Bute said in a statement in French. “I have always passed every test since I was world champion. Not long ago, before my fight with James DeGale in November, I was tested eight times from the start of training camp to the fight.

“I never took anything and I never used banned substances. I have complete confidence in my team. The B sample will be tested and I am sure the result will be negative.”

Bute and Jack fought to a majority draw in the April 30 bout in Washington.

The 36-year-old Romanian-born Bute (32-3-1) is a former 168-pound champion.

Promoter Yvon Michel also said in the statement that he was surprised with the positive test.

“We hope that the test on the B sample shows it was a mistake,” he said. “Until then, we solidly support Lucian Bute.”

— With files from The Associated Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled Bute’s first name.