Former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan banned for doping
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London: Former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan was banned for two years from all sports after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
The UK Anti-Doping on Tuesday said that the 36-year-old tested positive for the anabolic agent ostarine following his loss to Kell Brook in Manchester in February 2022. Khan said he would "never cheat" after the ban and accepted a violation of anti-doping rules. He announced retirement in May 2022.
Khan also said that he intentionally did not ingest the substance and an independent panel accepted his statement.
"I would never cheat. I'm a retired fighter. I've got a two-year ban now which is quite strange and funny that they banned me. I've already retired. I've no comeback plans at all. You can see by my performance against Kell Brook wasn't the best. I lost the fight. If I went in there and knocked Kell Brook out it's different. I've never cheated in my life. I'm the one that wanted testing on that fight. Also, the amount that was in my system could have been by shaking people's hands. I don't know the drug that was in my system," he told Sky News.
The ban is deemed to have commenced on 6 April 2022 and will expire on 5 April 2024.
"This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue anti-doping rule violations in order to protect clean sport," said UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble.