JARRELL MILLER has conceded he “messed up” as his fight against Anthony Joshua has been called off after failing THREE drug tests.
The Brooklyn boxer, 30, has AGAIN tested positive for a banned substance, this time being found of using EPO.
ESPN have revealed Miller’s urine test taken on March 31 came back positive for GW1516 again and an endurance-enhancing drug EPO.
That’s the substance Lance Armstrong used to trigger the biggest doping scandal in cycling history.
EPO is said to increase oxygen absorption, improve endurance and reduce fatigue by increasing the rate of red cell production.
It is also believed that EPO helps the healing process of muscles as it increases the metabolism.
The Big Baby is now set to miss out on the bout with WBA, IBF and WBO world champion Joshua, 29, at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
A lot can be said right now. I’m going to get straight to the point, I messed up, I made a bad call
Jarrell Miller
And he has eventually addressed his fans, conceding he “messed up” and “hurt” his family and friends.
He said: “A lot can be said right now. I’m going to get straight to the point, I messed up, I made a bad call.
“A lot of ways to handle the situation, I handled it wrongly and I’m paying the price for it.
“I missed out on a big opportunity and I’m hurting on the inside you know, my heart is bleeding right now, I hurt my family, my friends, my team, my supporters.
“But, I’m-a own up to it, I’m-a deal with it, I’m-a correct it and I’m going to come back better.
“I’m humbled by the experience, fighters go through a lot and I don’t want to make it – a bad name for ourselves and it’s time to do right and get right.”
Miller first failed a urine test by VADA given on March 20 with the banned substance GW1516 being found in his system, before testing positive for HGH on March 31.
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He had already seen his license being denied by the New York State Athletic Commission after failing the first test.
Joshua has begun the search for a new opponent with Cuban veteran Luis Ortiz being the favoured replacement by both AJ and Hearn.
However, the likes of Mahmoud Charr, Michael Hunter, Kubrat Pulev and Adam Kownacki are also on the list of potential understudies.