Amir Khan has insisted he has never cheated after a failed drug test saw him banned from sport for two years.
The 36-year-old returned a positive result for the anabolic agent ostarine following his loss to Kell Brook in Manchester in February last year. Khan, who announced his retirement in May last year, accepted a violation of anti-doping rules but said he had not intentionally ingested the substance, an argument accepted by an independent panel following a hearing in January this year.
He has now denied cheating, telling Sky Sports: "I’ve never cheated, I’m a retired fighter. You can see by my performance against Kell Brook. I lost the fight. If I went in there and knocked Brook out it’s different. I’ve never cheated in my life. I’m the one who wanted the testing on the fight. The amount in my system, could have been from shaking peoples hands. I don’t know what the drug was in my system. I’ve never cheated and I never will. It’s funny that they’ve banned me, I’m already retired anyway.”
The report on the case indicated the fighter had accepted Ostarine was present in his body at the time of testing, but insisted that he had not ingested it deliberately. He had his case heard earlier this year during which it was determined he had indeed not intentionally taken the banned substance.
It is the latest high-profile case of a failed drugs test with Conor Benn having tested positive for a banned substance prior to his clash with Chris Eubank Jr which was later cancelled. However he has managed to prove his innocence in line with the WBC and has been reinstated in their world rankings at 147lb.
A statement from UK Anti-Doping confirmed Khan's ban, stating: "Professional boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a Prohibited Substance.
"On February 19, 2022, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an In-Competition urine Sample from Mr Khan after his fight against Kell Brook at the Manchester Arena. Mr Khan's Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for ostarine.
"Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). The substance is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) 2022 Prohibited List as an anabolic agent and is prohibited in sport at all times."
It is a sour end to a high-level career in the sport for Khan who shared the ring with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford and Brook throughout his glistening time in the ring. He also acted as a figurehead to inspire a rise of British-Asian athletes in sport, including boxing.
