Deontay Wilder lands a bodyshot on former WBC champ Bermane Stiverne. Photo: Naoki Fakuda.

The WBC is taking a very deliberate approach to finalizing a decision on Alexander Povetkin’s failed drug test that caused the cancellation of his heavyweight fight with titleholder Deontay Wilder last Saturday.

The WBC announced on Wednesday that Wilder is allowed to make a voluntary defense of his choosing against someone other than Povetkin. But the sanctioning body has yet to remove Povetkin from its heavyweight ratings — he is still listed in the No. 1 position — and said in Wednesday’s ruling it continues to investigate the circumstances of Povetkin’s failed drug test for the banned substance meldonium.

Wilder’s longtime trainer and manager Jay Deas is happy the WBC has decided that Wilder is free to forge ahead and fight someone else next. “I think the ruling allows us to move forward while the WBC continues their investigation into the positive drug test by Povetkin,” he told RingTV.com on Wednesday in a phone interview. “While they are determining what they’re going to do — whether they’re going to ban or drop him from the rankings — in the meantime we’re not being held up by that decision so I’m thankful that they came to that conclusion.”

The WBC has yet to announce whether Povetkin will be suspended for his tainted “A” sample. Part of the WBC’s reluctance may have to do with Povetkin’s claim he took the drug before it was officially banned in January. Povetkin, however, passed drug tests on April 7,8, and 11 before flunking an April 27 urine test. The WBC said it will continue to scrutinize the circumstances.

“In relation with Challenger’s Povetkin test result, the WBC is conducting an in-depth investigation and evaluation of the situation,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a statement. “Further WBC ruling(s) will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the WBC hereby rules that in light of the fact that the bout with challenger Povetkin did not take place as scheduled, WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder has the right to make a voluntary defense of his title as reasonably soon as possible.”

The WBC frustrated the Wilder camp by previously announcing on May 15 that Wilder’s fight with mandatory challenger Povetkin had been postponed instead of canceled in the wake of the positive drug test. That has given Povetkin promoter Andrey Ryabinsky ammunition to maintain the fight will happen at some point. Wilder told RingTV.com on Monday he will never fight Povetkin, barring an apology, which the Russian has so far not done.

Deas said that Wilder’s camp has yet to reach out to other fighters to gauge their availability to fight Wilder next. Deas expects Wilder to return to the ring in late July, though a venue is not yet in place. “The first thing we’re trying to do is zero in on a time frame and then we’ll be looking at the rankings to see who’s available, who wants to fight,” he said. “It’s not as easy as people think it is to find the right guy, but we’re looking forward to him getting back in the ring and putting on an exciting show.”

Mitch Abramson is a former reporter for the New York Daily News and can be reached on Twitter at: Mabramson13.