former Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has been suspended for six months by the WBO, following his positive drugs test for Oxilofrine.

Saunders was denied a licence last month by the Massachusetts state which meant he would have to vacate his title instead of defending it against the now champion Demetrius Andrade on October 20th.

“Everything has a good ending,” stated WBO president Paco Valcarcel at their annual convention on Thursday.

“Billy Joe sent us a public apology. We issued a resolution. He was suspended for six months.

“He has to do community work, work with young people. If you are going to be a champ you have to do things from the heart.

“Three months after his suspension we can consider if he will go into the ratings/if he will be reinstated.

“The information I have so far is that he started well and he is complying with what we asked of him. But he must continue. He must see this through. If this is not sustainable he will not be in the ratings.

“We want champions that will be good. That will be role models to future generations. If not we don’t want you.”

It is however uncertain whether Saunders can still box despite the suspension as the ruling is only handed down by the WBO and he still holds a BBBofC Licence.

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