Luis Ortiz FAILS drug test just a month before WBC heavyweight title showdown with Deontay Wilder
Cuban can appeal the Vada ruling but November clash with American WBC champ is now on hold
HEAVYWEIGHT contender Luis Ortiz has failed a drug test.
WBC chief Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that the Cuban had tested positive for a banned substance by Vada.
Ortiz, nicknamed King Kong, had been scheduled to fight American champ Deontay Wilder in Brooklyn, New York, on November 4.
He was also the No 1 contender for Anthony Joshua's WBA title - the winner of the Wilder-Oritz bout could have faced AJ in a unification bout if the Watford superstar beats Kubrat Pulev.
Ortiz can appeal the ban.
The 38-year-old held the WBA interim title for a brief spell in 2015 and 2016.
He was previously banned for nine months for testing positive for a banned substance in 2014.
Speaking only on Wednesday, Ortiz had fired a warning at the Bronze Bomber.
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He said: "Wilder should sign his death sentence. I’m very different than anybody else that he’s fought.
"I punch harder than anybody else. I’m going to teach him not to mess with Cubans.
"I’m ready to go and excited for the fight. I want to get to November 4 so I can do what I have to do.
"Wilder does a lot of talking. He’s nervous and keeps forgetting the date of the fight. I think he took this fight because he has no choice and no one else to fight.
"I think Wilder is going to run in this fight.
"He should be careful what he says before the fight, because I think he’s going to run from me.
"Some skeptics are talking about my age, but look at Mayweather. I still have my speed and my quickness."
A week before, Wilder warned Ortiz not "f*** up" by using performance-enhancing drugs.
The American said: "So this time, Luis Ortiz, don’t f*** it up!
"Stay clean, because we’ll be checking. Stay clean.
"Don’t f*** this up for me, nor you, because I’m gonna prove to the world that I am the best."