Lucas Browne, whose ownership of a heavyweight world title is in jeopardy because of a failed drug test, said the results of an independent polygraph test this past Friday show he did not knowingly take a banned substance.
Browne's "A" sample tested positive for clenbuterol following a comeback 10th-round knockout of Ruslan Chagaev to win a secondary heavyweight world title in Grozny, Russia on March 5. He is awaiting the result of a test on the 'B' sample, which Browne has already said he expects to come back positive.
While waiting for that test result, Browne said he took a polygraph test to back up his insistence that he did not knowingly take a banned substance despite Clenbuterol showing up in a random test conducted by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, a testing agency that Browne insisted handle the testing for the bout.
"I am pleased that the polygraph test confirmed that I am telling the truth," Browne said. "The result is not a surprise to me as I have always said I am a clean athlete. I know I arrived in Grozny a clean athlete and I know I did nothing wrong when I was there.
"It should never be forgotten that I requested the VADA testing for the fight. Whilst the result is not a surprise to me, I consider this test another step towards proving my innocence. I remain grateful for the ongoing support of the public, my manager and my promoter. Together we are fighting this injustice."
Browne said the Clenbuterol entered his system after his arrival in Grozny because he said he has proof that a drug test VADA conducted on Feb. 29, shortly after his arrival, was negative. Browne (24-0, 21 KOs), 36, rallied from a hard sixth-round knockdown and eventually knocked Chagaev out in the 10th round to become the first Australian to win a heavyweight world title. That status, however, is in jeopardy. There's a good chance he will be stripped of the belt and the result changed to a no decision unless he can produce proof that his food or beverages were spiked during his stay in Grozny, which is what Browne has suggested happened.
He has the support of his promoter, former two-division titleholder Ricky Hatton.
"I have been saying since it happened I am 100 percent behind Lucas," Hatton said. "The whole thing just doesn't stack up. The results of the lie detector test don't surprise me at all. Lucas knows he didn't do it, I know he didn't do it and now we have a test conducted by experts that confirms he is telling the truth.
"We will keep going and do all that we can do to prove his innocence. Matters are in the hands of the lawyers and the WBA."