Miller: I “Will Be Vindicated” After PED Failure
With his world title opportunity taken from him, Jarrell Miller has come out swinging in defending himself against reports that he had taken a performance enhancing drug.
Miller was found late on Tuesday to have tested positive for a performance enhancer on a VADA test taken on March 20th, which would have the New York State Athletic Commission to deny the Brooklyn born boxer a license to fight on June 1st at Madison Square Garden.
The hard-hitting heavyweight has denied knowingly taking a banned substance and he will “vigorously appeal” Wednesday’s decision.
“I want to thank all of my supporters who have stood by me since day one and especially during this extremely difficult time. I have not been tuned in to social media and any other media outlets to focus and channel all of my energies into working hard with no distractions,” Miller stated on Instagram.
“I am absolutely devastated upon hearing the news my boxing license has been revoked in NY State and I will be vigorously appealing this decision. I have never knowingly taken any banned substance and when I found out the news last night I was totally shocked.
“My team and I stand for integrity, decency & honesty and together we will stand to fight this with everything we have! This was a voluntarily test that I was very happy to do and these results came just one week after another voluntarily test that I had taken which was completely clean. I refuse to just lie down and let my dream be taken away from me when I know in my heart that I’ve done nothing wrong.
“15 years of hard work. I’m warrior,” Miller continued. “I don’t need a banned substance. Remember don’t believe everything you hear and see. The facts will prevail and I shall be vindicated. I don’t have anything to hide and the truth will make itself known.”
According to ESPN, the $4.75 million that Miller (30-0-1, 23 KOs) would lose is just the tip of the iceberg in lost revenue for the New Yorker.
Here is the break down of money that Miller could lose if he’s pulled from the fight:
– $4.75 million purse + a percentage of the pay-per-view revenue from Sky Box Office in the UK. It’s unknown how much additional money Miller can make from the UK side, but suffice to say it would be good bump up in pay from his guaranteed purse of $4.75 million
– $1.5 million x 2 [$3 million total] for two fights on DAZN after his June 1 fight against Joshua. Miller wouldn’t need to beat Joshua for him to get those two fights with DAZN. They would be comeback fights for him following his likely loss on June 1. With Miller testing positive for the banned substance GW1516, those two fights could go away now, since there wouldn’t be a Joshua title fight.
– Massive millions that Miller would receive if he beat Joshua. With Joshua’s chin and stamina problem, you couldn’t rule out the possibility of an upset for Miller if the fight took place. But if Miller doesn’t face Joshua due to his failed drug test, then he could forget about pulling off the upset. Instead, Miller would likely be looking at a lengthy suspension from boxing, and then a long rebuilding process.
This will mark the second-time as a pro fighter Miller had turned up dirty, as he tested positive while fighting for GLORY Kickboxing, prior to a fight with Mirko Cro Cop.