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Amir Khan Breaks Silence On Failed Drugs Test: “I’ve Never Cheated”

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 4th April 2023.

Amir Khan

Amir Khan has responded to news that he tested positive for a banned substance immediately after his fight with longtime rival, Kell Brook.

Almost a year on from his official retirement, the Olympic Silver Medalist and Unified World Champion’s career has been brought back into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

The Mail broke the news that Khan had failed a doping test for World Anti Doping Agency banned substance, ostarine. The drug is prohibited in and out of competition, and is taken advantage of by athletes for muscle-building purposes.

Following an initial suspension, Khan attended his official hearing claiming that the drug wasn’t in his system intentionally. This was accepted by the independent board, and a two-year ban from all sports was applied.

Responding to the reports via Sky Sports News, Khan said he had ‘never cheated.’

“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.”

Whilst his performance was indeed lacklustre in a fight that should have happened many years before, it does little to change the facts. After Brook’s victory, both men officially retired.

Boxing fans have many questions around the case, perhaps most importantly why the information on the post-fight test wasn’t released before now – and who involved knew?

At a time where the conversation on doping in the sport is rife, courtesy of Conor Benn, this is yet another scandal that British boxing simply didn’t need.

More is expected to follow on this developing story.