Heavyweight Alexander Povetkin, whose mandatory fight against world titleholder Deontay Wilder on May 21 in Moscow was canceled less than two weeks before the bout because Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, is off the hook.The WBC announced a resolution to its investigation into the matter on Wednesday. It decided not to punish Povetkin, despite the dirty test.Not only will Povetkin not be punished beyond the cancellation of the May fight -- which cost him a purse of $1,930,500, Wilder a purse of $4,504,500 and the winner a $715,000 bonus -- but he was also given a shot at the interim title because Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) will likely be sidelined until at least early 2017. Wilder recently had right hand and biceps surgery after he suffered injuries in his eighth-round knockout of Chris Arreola on July 16 in a fight arranged on short notice following the Povetkin bout being called off.Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs), 36, a former world titleholder and 2004 Russian Olympic gold medalist, was ordered to face former world titleholder Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs), 37, a Haiti native living in Las Vegas, for the vacant interim belt. Wilder outclassed Stiverne in a lopsided decision win to claim the title in January 2015As a result of his injuries and surgeries, champion Wilder is expected to be inactive until some time in 2017, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement. Deontay Wilder is confirmed as WBC heavyweight champion and will have the time to recover from his multiple injuries and surgeries. Wilder will retain his rights as champion, including the 70 percent advantage in case his mandatory bout needs to go to purse bid, once he returns to action.An interim championship is ordered between the two highest available contenders, No. 1 Alexander Povetkin and No. 2 Bermane Stiverne.The Povetkin and Stiverne camps were ordered to begin negotiations immediately. If they do not make a deal, a purse bid will be held Sept. 16 with each fighter entitled to 50 percent of the winning offer.In addition, both fighters are required to participate in the WBCs new Clean Boxing Program, which means they will be randomly tested (blood and urine) by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.Povetkin said he used meldonium in late 2015, before the World Anti-Doping Agency ban went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The WBC said because Povetkins level of meldonium was under 1 ug/mg in tests conducted after March 1, any punishment was at its discretion because there was no way to determine if the drug had been used after the ban.Povetkins A sample level of meldonium was 0.070 micrograms per milliliter, and the B sample was 0.072, levels approximately 14 times less than the threshold level of 1.0 that WADA set in notices published in April and June.However, in its ruling, the WBC failed to address how Povetkin could have been negative in random VADA tests conducted on April 7, 8 and 11, but his April 27 test of both his A and B samples were positive, though only trace amounts.Wilder and DiBella presented evidence during a hearing with the WBC in Birmingham, Alabama, the day after the Wilder-Arreola fight, during which an expert witness, Dr. Daniel Eichner, the former science director for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and current president of the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory in Salt Lake City, one of two accredited WADA labs in the United States, testified that it would be impossible to test negative for meldonium three times and then test positive days later without having ingested it in the interim.Dr. Eichner also testified that .007 micrograms per milileter would be a normal level of meldonium to find if a week had passed between ingestion and testing.Nonetheless, the WBC said it would not ban Povetkin for competing for its title because of the impossibility to scientifically prove that Mr. Povetkin ingested meldonium after January 1, 2016.As part of Povetkins being allowed to fight Stiverne for the interim belt, the WBC said VADA will design a specific testing protocol for Mr. Povetkin at Mr. Povetkins own cost and expense. The VADA-designed protocol will commence as soon as feasible after this ruling and will continue for one year thereafter.If there is any future positive test, the WBC said it will suspend Mr. Povetkin from participation in any WBC-sanctioned events indefinitely, divest Mr. Povetkin from any WBC title or any other rights he might have at the time and impose any and all available penalties under the Clean Boxing Program without further inquiry.Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, Povetkins promoter, viewed the ruling as a victory for Povetkin.We won, he wrote on social media. Povetkin has been vindicated, and must now fight Stiverne because Wilder is injured. Ill still keep up the legal action against Wilders team.Promoter Lou DiBella and Wilder filed suit in U.S. federal court in New York for at least $5 million over the canceled fight. Ryabinsky later filed suit against them, seeking at least $34.5 million for breach of contract and defamation.Wilder, meanwhile, is rehabilitating from the surgeries, which were pronounced a success by Dr. Jimmy Robinson, Wilders physician since his pro debut, who is also the chair for sports medicine and team physician for the University of Alabama.The surgeries were completed by well-renowned surgeons and were an absolute success, Robinson said. I anticipate that Wilder will be back fighting by the end of this year or January of next year. As he is healing, part of his rehab will be to restore range [of] motion to the elbow and get his strength back, which will expedite his recovery. The repair to his right hand should make it as solid and as strong as it can be, so that no further injuries are sustained. In fact, with his rehab, I anticipate the power in his right hand only to increase.Said DiBella: Were thrilled that both surgeries were so successful and that Deontay is on the road back. Hes a dedicated champion and will work diligently to return better than ever. Its great for Deontay, boxing and the heavyweight division that he will be able to defend his title when the calendar turns to 2017.Jay Deas, Wilders trainer and co-manager, said that even though Wilder cannot use his right hand at the moment, they will hit the gym to work on other things.Deontay and I will be working out as he heals so that he will be prepared the moment he is fully healed, Deas said. He will be in the gym working on conditioning, his footwork, and well be working his left hand overtime so that when the right hand is cleared, we will be ready to take a fight.Wilder broke his right hand for the third time and had surgery on it for the second time. But he said he is a fast healer and anxious to fight again.Ive always known that my body is a fast-healing body because I am an elite athlete, and the doctor confirmed that, Wilder said. Were going to pick up where we left off. Im looking forward to unifying the division. Thats my main goal. I dont want to stop. I dont need a tune-up. I dont need a warm-up. I dont need none of that. Once everything is healed with the arm, Im going to get back to right where I left off.That could mean a new date with Povetkin or a rematch with Stiverne.Hydro Flask Sale Clearance . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Hydro Flask China Wholesale . 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Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.ESTERO, Fla. -- Rob Gray scored 23 points, Damyean Dotson added 16 more, including four 3-pointers, and Houston cruised to a 93-56 win over George Mason in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Monday night.Houston (2-0) hit 54 percent of its 65 shots from the field, including 13 of 22 from long range, and had six players reach double figures.Wes VanBeck contributed 14 points, Danrad Knowles had 13, Devin Davis hauled in 10 rebounds to go with nine points, and Galen Robinson Jr. disheed out 10 assists.ddddddddddddTrailing by four early, the Cougars quickly took control with a 13-2 run capped by Dotsons 3-pointer and carried a 48-26 advantage into the break. Grays 3-pointer in the second half gave Houston a 69-37 lead with 11:44 to play and the margin stayed above 30 points the rest of the way.Marquise Moore led George Mason (1-3) with 15 points. ' ' '