By Yuri Tarantin 

Andrei Ryabinsky, promoter for former WBA 'regular' heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin, has received confirmation from WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] that his boxer is clean.

Povetkin was scheduled to face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on May 21 in Moscow before the Russian fighter tested positive for meldonium, and that forced the WBC to postpone the fight indefinitely for an investigation. Povetkin was tested on May 17th by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and came up clean. He also tested negative in three tests prior to the failure in question.

Wilder was cleared to make a voluntary defense by the WBC and he is now scheduled to defend his belt against Chris Arreola on July 16th in Birmingham, Alabama.

Because of fight's postponement and Povetkin's drug test failure, Wilder and his promoter Lou DiBella filed a lawsuit against Ryabinsky and his fighter for breach of contract, with a demand to pay Wilder's guaranteed purse of over $4 million. Ryabinksy then fired back with a $34.5 million lawsuit against DiBella and Wilder, also for breach of contract and defamation.

The World Boxing Council is conducting an investigation into the matter. While the investigation plays out, Povetkin will remain in the rankings as the mandatory challenger.

Povetkin, his doctor and his legal team met with the WBC earlier this week to discuss the matter. Ryabinsky is over the moon with WADA's decision regarding Povetkin, because it strengthens their position with the WBC and the ongoing legal suits.

"WADA sent us today a clarification note saying athletes that tested positive with less than one microgram of meldonium in samples taken before October 1, 2016 will not be disqualified. Therefore, WADA admits that Alexander Povetkin is "clean," Ryabinsky told R-Sport.

"We are awaiting now a positive decision from the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru.