Ex-champion Khan banned from boxing for two years due to doping scandal

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former world light-welterweight boxing champion Amir Khan was slapped with a two-year ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance last April 4, 2023.

The 16-year professional boxer was exposed by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) and announced that he was positive for ostarine, a type of selective androgen receptor modulator used to enhance muscle and osteoporosis recovery.

UKAD’s assessment came after his samples from his fight against Kell Brook last February 2022 revealed that ostarine components were present.

The organization added that they charged Khan with two separate violations: one for using the prohibited substance before the fight took place and the other is the presence of the substance during the testing.

Khan lost his bout against Brook via a sixth-round technical knockout which led to his tragic downfall in the sport despite reigning as a king in the light-welterweight division for a long time.

But in an interview with CNN and Sky Sports, Khan denied any cheating that he did during and before the mega-fight against Brook.

“You can see my performance against Kell Brook wasn’t the best. I lost the fight. If I went in there and knocked him out it is different. I have never cheated in my life,” said Khan.

Initially, UKAD already informed Khan of his situation several months ago and released a provisional suspension from all code-compliant sports.

His violations were then elevated after his case was brought to the National Anti-Doping Panel as confirmed by UKAD.

“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.