Tony Bellew has weighed in with his assessment of the news of Amir Khan’s failed performance enhancing drugs test last week, and admits he has been “shocked” by the reports.
Khan tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine following his loss to Kell Brook last year and was subsequently handed a two year ban from boxing, as well as all other sports, by UKAD.
Bellew has long called for harsher punishments for those who fail drugs test, but has came under criticism for seemingly changing his tune around Conor Benn’s case.
Speaking on the DAZN Boxing Show, the former cruiserweight world champion explained his thoughts on the Khan situation and why he hasn’t been so critical of Benn.
“It’s a tough one, I know Amir. Amazing fighter, multiple world champion, so I’m shocked.”
“I don’t know much about these drugs that are coming up, but if you’ve taken a performance enhancing drug, you should be banned for life. It’s got to go that way.”
“People will make the argument “why don’t you ban Conor Benn for life then?” All I’ve been told is his was a pregnancy enhancer and, last time I checked, Conor Benn wasn’t trying to get pregnant!”
Khan has denied taking the substance in question, and has referenced his performance and defeat to Brook as evidence to back up his claims.
He shared a statement from UKAD on his Twitter account over the weekend, in which the body cleared Khan of intentionally ingesting Ostarine, due the trace amounts found his in his system being ‘a thousand times too low to enhance performance.’
The case – specifically its drawn-out process – has raised fresh calls from fans for a revamp of the drug testing protocols in the sport.