Former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan has been handed a two-year ban from all sport after testing constructive for a prohibited substance, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) mentioned on Tuesday.
Khan, 36, returned a constructive end result for the anabolic agent ostarine following his loss to Kell Brook in Manchester in February 2022.
Ostarine is a drug designed to have comparable results to testosterone. It’s current on the World Anti-Doping Company’s prohibited listing as an anabolic agent and is prohibited in sport always.
Khan announced his retirement in Might final yr after his sixth-round stoppage defeat to fellow Briton Brook on Feb 19 however can be unable to return to the ring till April 2024.
He accepted a violation of anti-doping guidelines however mentioned he had not deliberately ingested the substance, an argument accepted by an unbiased panel following a listening to in January.
Khan’s ban started on April 6, 2022 and can expire on April 5 subsequent yr.
Talking concerning the verdict to Sky Sports News on Tuesday, Khan insisted that he had “by no means cheated”.
He mentioned, “The quantity that was in my system may have come from shaking peoples’ arms. I don’t know what the drug was in my system. I’ll give my views, however, like I say, I’ve by no means cheated in my life. I’d by no means cheat.
“I’m a retired fighter, and I’ve obtained this two-year ban now, which is sort of unusual. I’ve already retired anyway. No comeback plans in any respect.”
Khan turned a family title in Britain after claiming a silver medal on the 2004 Athens Olympics, aged simply 17.
He made his skilled debut in July 2005 and 4 years later gained the WBA light-welterweight title with victory over Andreas Kotelnik in Manchester.
Khan unified the WBA and IBF titles with a win over Zab Judah in 2011 however controversially misplaced his subsequent struggle to Lamont Peterson, who would subsequently check constructive for artificial testosterone.
He retired with a report of 34 wins and 6 defeats from 40 bouts.
UKAD chief government Jane Rumble mentioned: “This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue anti-doping rule violations in an effort to defend clear sport. “
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