By Miguel Rivera

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman rejected the possibility of making Bermane Stiverne the WBC interim-heavyweight champion after the cancellation of the fight against Alexander Povetkin.

Stiverne traveled to Russia to face Povetkin last Saturday night for the vacant WBC interim-title - and the winner would have become the mandatory challenger to full champion Deontay Wilder.

The fight never happened, after Sulaiman became aware Saturday morning that Povetkin had tested positive for banned substance ostarine. The WBC withdrew their sanction and Stiverne refused to go forward with the fight.

After the fight was canceled, Stiverne and his promoter, Don King, pleased with the WBC to give them the interim-title, and a shot at Wilder, by default.

"We can not give him a championship without fighting anyone, it would be impossible to do something like that," said Sulaiman to ESPN Deportes.

The WBC has not made a decision on what they intend to do with Stiverne and which fighter they will order him to face for the interim-belt.

Sulaiman also stated that the investigation was opened regarding the second failed drug test for Povetkin in 2016, and they will determine a penalty whenever the process of collecting information is completed - and at that point the issue will move to the legal board and board of governors.

"Povetkin is suspended indefinitely from all activity and is going to proceed according to the protocol in the regulation, but it takes time. A letter has already been sent to us, but because we are finishing the convention, we need the necessary time to tackle the subject. I do not even want to speculate on what kind of sanction it could be. Each case is specific," said Sulaiman.

Povetkin had tested positive in May for the substance meldoniium, and his scheduled fight with Wilder was canceled. Povetkin admitted to using the drug last year when it was still legal. The drug in question was placed on WADA's banned list in January. After a very long investigation by the WBC, he was cleared to face Stiverne for the WBC interim-belt.