JARRELL MILLER could be back in the boxing ring by July after serving his latest drugs ban – and still has his eye on Anthony Joshua.
The disgraced heavyweight has been serving a backdated two-year suspension from December 2020.
Jarrell Miller was brought in by Tyson Fury for sparring
A five-member panel of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) voted unanimously to keep Miller under suspension through June 16, 2022.
But commissioner Anthony A Marnell III has proposed that the American can become immediately eligible for a license from June 17.
Miller will however need to provide negative drug tests through a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) random drug testing program.
And it could pave the way for the former contender to return in the summer.
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Promoter Dmitry Salita told the Daily Mail: “Pending the Commission’s permission, we’d like it to be the end of June.
“End of June or early July – as soon as possible. He’s been training, he’s in shape.
“As soon as the Commission allows him to get a licence and as soon as we find him an appropriate date and TV partner to work with, he’ll be back in the ring.”
Miller was served with the backdated 24-month ban for testing positive for the banned substance GW501516—also known as cardarine and endurobol—ahead of his scheduled July 9 fight with Jerry Forrest.
He was offered the chance to have a six-month reduction by complying with random drug testing terms – needing to submit at least two random drug tests per month for six consecutive months.
But Miller, who has not fought since November 2018, was unable to afford the testing program.
NSAC executive director Jeffrey Mullen was prepared to reject the application filed by Miller seeking a twelve-week reduction based on his past drug testing offences.
Miller tested positive for a banned substance for a June 2014 kickboxing event in California and was suspended for nine months.
But his most high-profile controversy came before his proposed June 2019 unified heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua in New York.
Miller later failed three VADA tests and was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, who stunned AJ but lost the rematch six months later.
He was then set to return in 2020 after signing with Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable until running into his latest drug-test shame.
Miller has continued to train ever since and was just brought in by Tyson Fury, 33, as a sparring partner to replicate Dillian Whyte, 33.
Salita still sees Fury as a potential opponent for the ex-kickboxer.
He said: “I would love for them to fight down the line for sure.
“With their personalities, it would be one of the most fun and exciting promotions in boxing.
“Let’s take it one step at a time. Jarrell at his best has the skills to beat anyone in the heavyweight division.
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“But it’s not the time to talk about them fighting each other.”
Salita added: “I think Jarrell is ready for Joshua – he just needs one fight to break a sweat and get the feeling again.
“I think Jarrell would be ready for Joshua in his next fight, honestly.”
Anthony Joshua before his cancelled 2019 fight with Jarrell Miller
