Heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte has been provisionally suspended by the WBC, he's also lost his interim world title status and is no longer the mandatory challenger to Deontay Wilder.

They're launching an investigation into an adverse finding in a drugs test prior to his recent bout against Oscar Rivas.

He was cleared to fight by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control, but WBC officials say they weren't told about the positive sample before the contest.

The 31-year-old won the bout and had been next in line to face Wilder for the WBC title in May of 2020.

"An "A" sample Ukad collected from Mr Dillian Whyte in relation with his bout against Oscar Rivas yielded an adverse finding," the WBC confirmed on Tuesday evening.

"In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC's own investigation and adjudicatory process, the WBC is provisionally suspending the WBC's recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger of the division.

"The WBC has notified Mr Whyte and his team of the WBC's suspension, and that it will afford Mr Whyte the opportunity to present its position to the WBC at an investigative hearing which will take place at a place and time to be announced in the near future.

"Throughout its investigation and hearing, the WBC will afford Mr Whyte and his team the opportunity to present any available information and materials, and any exculpatory evidence they might deem appropriate."

Whyte, who has 26 wins from 27 fights, protests his innocence and said last week that he's "so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me".