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Tony Bellew insists Billy Joe Saunders is NOT a drugs cheat and has ‘enormous amounts of sympathy’ for ex-WBO champ

Saunders tested positive for substance found in over-the-counter nasal spray and Bellew insists it wasn't intentional or anywhere near as bad as other dopers

TONY BELLEW has come out in defence of Billy Joe Saunders, insisting the controversial middleweight is “no cheat”.

Saunders was due to defend his WBO world title against Demetrius Andrade on Saturday night despite testing positive for oxilofrine.

Tony Bellew has come to the defence of Billy Joe Saunders
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Tony Bellew has come to the defence of Billy Joe SaundersCredit: PA:Press Association

Promoter Frank Warren claimed the stimulant originated from a “common nasal spray”, and no action was taken by either United Kingdom Anti-Doping or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission refused Saunders a licence to take on Andrade, and the Hatfield boxer sensationally ended up vacating his belt.

Fellow Brit Bellew believes Saunders has done nothing wrong, and is gobsmacked he’s being compared to others who have taken far worse substances intentionally.

Bellew told ESPN: “If you’re talking about fighters who have taken over-the-counter products like Billy Joe or Dillian Whyte, I’ve got an enormous amount of sympathy for them.

The Hatfield fighter failed a drugs test, leading to him vacating his WBO world middleweight title
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Saunders failed a drugs test, leading to him vacating his WBO world middleweight titleCredit: PA:Press Association

“I don’t class Whyte as a steroid cheat because he drank a drink he got over the counter. If it’s proven that Saunders sniffed a nasal spray, I believe the person who gave it to him knew.

“But Billy would never have taken a steroid. I know that because I have spent a lot of time around Billy Joe.

“Luis Ortiz is a banned steroid cheat [for nandrolone in 2017]. Povetkin twice tested positive [for meldonium and ostarine in 2016] and is a cheating scumbag.

“Guys who inject steroids into themselves, there’s no condoning that. If a guy smokes a spliff, OK it’s wrong, he’s out of order but he’s not putting anyone in danger. But it’s these b******s who are taking performance-enhancing drugs who are at a different level.

Bellew has sympathy for Saunders and insists he is not a cheat
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Bellew has sympathy for Saunders and insists he is not a cheatCredit: PA:Press Association
Billy Joe Saunders visits a casino with his mates and loses a substantial amount of money

“Billy Joe can’t even spell oxilofrine, he doesn’t know what that is but I’m pretty sure everyone in boxing knows who gave him it. I’m pretty sure they know why he was given it. He did not know that. Whoever gave it to him needs banning.

“Billy Joe Saunders has not taken a performance-enhancing drug injected into him like Ortiz, like Povetkin. Billy hasn’t done that. I know Billy is no cheat."

Bellew takes on 15-0 Oleksandr Usyk for the Ukrainian's WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine belts in Manchester on November 10.

The Bomber added: “[Myself?] I’ve been tested five times in eight weeks ahead of this fight. The only problem I have is the 6am calls but that’s what it takes to keep this sport clean.

“They’re f*****g my sleep up a bit and I’ve had a pint of blood taken in eight weeks which isn’t good for recovery, but the sport is going the right way and we need to keep testing fighters. We need to keep testing the ones who have failed again because you usually find once a cheat, always a cheat.”

Bellew feels Saunders can't be compared to fighters who injected steroids like Aleksander Povetkin
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Bellew feels Saunders can't be compared to fighters who injected steroids like Aleksander Povetkin, claims BellewCredit: AP:Associated Press
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