The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission has refused to grant him a licence for this month’s WBO middleweight title clash with Demetrius Andrade.
And after being replaced on the bill by Walter Kautondokwa, Saunders is now set to miss out on a huge payday in Boston.
Traces of banned stimulant oxilofrine was found in the Hatfield fighter’s system, which promoter Frank Warren claims came from a nasal spray.
Saunders looks certain to appeal the licence decision after facing no punishment from either the British Boxing Board of Control or the World Anti-Doping Agency, with oxilofrine allowed out of competition.
But should he miss out on his title defence in America, Saunders also stands to lose a huge amount of cash.
It also means the former Olympian will have to put his plans of mixing it with the best on hold.
ESPN’s Dan Rafael said: “Saunders, who will lose out on a $2.3m payday, had been scheduled to make his fourth title defence against former two-time junior middleweight titlist and mandatory challenger Andrade.”
Andrade’s promoter Eddie Hearn added: “I felt like it was 50-50 that he’d be licensed. Billy had his case but unfortunately he failed a VADA test which he signed up for, which the commission ruled on.
“We have to move on. Our focus is on Andrade becoming middleweight champion of the world and mixing with Canelo (Alvarez), Gennady Golovkin and Danny Jacobs, all of those guys. It’s disappointing, but the focus is on Andrade becoming a champion on October 20.”
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