Frank Warren has branded the long-running anti-doping investigation involving super-bantamweight
Dennis McCann 'a complete farce' and insists there is no case to answer for.
The 24-year-old 'Menace' had been scheduled to fight
Peter McGrail in Riyadh last December but an
adverse finding in a pre-fight VADA test meant he was withdrawn from the bout.
McGrail boxed Rhys Edwards on short notice instead.
At the time, it was reported that McCann had tested positive for two anabolic-androgenic steroids, drostanole and trenbolone, and the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control Robert Smith confirmed those were the substances in question.
However, now more than six months on, the situation has gone very quiet, with McCann seemingly not serving a ban but also not scheduled to fight. There has been no further updates from VADA or the Board on the situation or therefore possible punitive measures.
McCann, who was ringside in Ipswich for
Fabio Wardley's victory over Justis Huni last month, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
During a media lunch in central London on Monday as part of the build up for the July 19 heavyweight clash between
Oleksandr Usyk and
Daniel Dubois, McCann’s promoter Warren, the head of Queensberry Promotions, was asked to provide an update on the situation.
And while he insisted he was unable to go into any details on the matter, Warren said: "It is being investigated so this is my first proper statement on it: there is no case to answer.
"This is a complete farce what is going on. We're here today to talk about the heavyweights but you can quote me on that - it's a farce.
When asked if he thinks McCann has been 'stitched up', Warren replied: "Big time, incompetence all the way through."
As a result of his failed test, it is now a year since McCann last boxed, his unanimous decision victory over
Ionut Baluta at the o2 Arena last July.
It was a victory that moved the southpaw to 16-0-1 (8 KOs) and also to the No.2 spot with the WBO, where he remains despite the ongoing situation.