US, Russian heavyweight boxers square off in doping case

NEW YORK: Two heavyweight boxers — one American, the other Russian — are squaring off outside the ring in a legal battle accusing the Russian of doping.
World Boxing Council champion Deontay Wilder and his one-time challenger Alexander Povetkin were both in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday to hear opening statements at a civil trial stemming from a lawsuit filed by Wilder. He’s seeking $5 million for breach of contract after Povetkin failed a drug test, forcing the cancelation of a 2016 bout.
Before Wilder can be awarded any damages, a jury must decide whether a test result showing Povetkin had taken meldonium was valid.
Meldonium is the same performance-enhancing substance that got Maria Sharapova banned from tennis for 15 months.