Billy Joe Saunders set to be stripped of WBO title after being denied license for Demetrius Andrade fight

Saunders failed a voluntary drugs test after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine

Billy Joe Saunders has been refused a boxing license by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission to defend his WBO middleweight title against Demetrius Andrade.

His fight with Andrade, which had been due to take place on 20 October in Boston, has now been scrapped, while it is highly likely the WBO will strip him of his world middleweight title.

Saunders returned an adverse finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) test in August. His promoter, Frank Warren, said that the substance — the stimulant stimulant oxilofrine — was a “common decongestant nasal spray”.

Under World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) rules, oxilofrine is only banned in competition, meaning a fighter is only in breach of rules if the substance is detected in his stem on the day of the a bout.

However it is prohibited at all times by Vada, with the Massachusetts Commission therefore denying him a licence to box.

The WBO issued a statement on Wednesday morning that confirmed they are looking into the prospect of stripping Saunders of his title due to his inability to defend it.

"World Boxing Organization (WBO) president Francisco Valcarcel Mulero commented today on Billy Joe Saunders inability to defend his world middleweight championship, as per contractually agreed, against Demetrius Andrade on October 20th.

"This after the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission voted today against granting him a boxing license following a failed doping test on August 30th."

The statement continued: "Valcarcel, a practising attorney, added that if Andrade fights the first available contender, the WBO Championship Committee will consider sanctioning the bout."

Billy Joe Saunders faces losing his WBO middleweight championship (Getty)

Valcarcel Mulero added: “It is unfortunate that a boxer as talented as Saunders is facing this controversy and will not be able to defend the title. The WBO will examine the situation with due diligence and proceed according to its ‘Rules & Regulations’ decide which is the proper course of action”.

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, who promotes Andrade, has previously said that he would aim to secure a bout for the vacant bout in the event of the WBO stripping Saunders.

Andrade is now expected to fight the WBO’s No 2 ranked middleweight Walter Kautondokwa for the vacant title instead.

Saunders won the title by defeating David Lemieux earlier this year (Getty)

The news will come as another blow to Saunders, 29, who has endured a torrid nine months since so comprehensively defeating David Lemieux in Quebec, in one of the all-time great performances from a British boxer on foreign soil.

In September, Saunders was fined £100k by the British Boxing Board of Control for misconduct after a video was shared online in which the fighter offers a woman £150 worth of drugs to perform a sex act.

Saunders apologised for the video and described it as “banter gone wrong”.