Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for 2 years following anti-doping rule violations for the presence and use of a prohibited substance – earlier than bizarrely claiming the optimistic take a look at might have been right down to ‘shaking folks’s palms’.
A urine pattern collected by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) from the 36-year-old after his combat in opposition to Kell Brook in February 2022 contained an Opposed Analytical Discovering for ostarine – a banned bodybuilding drug.
UKAD notified Khan – an Olympic silver medalist and former world super-lightweight champion – of this on April 6 2022 and issued him with a provisional suspension, which means he has identified about this for 12 months.
On July 20 2022, they then charged the boxer with two Anti-Doping Rule Violations for the presence and use of a prohibited substance.
Khan accepted the violations however maintained his ‘ingestion of ostarine was not “intentional”‘, whereas he additionally pleaded his innocence and insisted he ‘by no means had or by no means will cheat’ after the suspension was introduced on Tuesday.
Amir Khan has been banned for 2 years following anti-doping rule violations a 12 months in the past
Ostarine was present in a urine pattern Khan supplied following his loss to Kell Brook final 12 months
His declare the ingestion of ostarine was ‘not intentional’ meant the case was referred to the Nationwide Anti-Doping Panel and was thought of by an unbiased tribunal which heard the case on January 24 2023.
Within the written resolution it got here to, dated 21 February 2023, the unbiased panel discovered him to be responsible of each violations, however concluded Khan had not executed so deliberately.
Talking on Sky Sports activities Information on Tuesday morning after he was handed a two-year ban, Khan denied any recommendations of wrongdoing on his half as he mentioned: ‘I’ve simply heard about it now as properly so I’ve received no remark for the time being however I will be in contact to present you my verdict.
‘I’ve by no means cheated. I am a retired fighter and on the similar time you possibly can see by my efficiency, my efficiency in opposition to Kell Brook wasn’t one of the best.
‘I misplaced the combat and if I went in there and knocked out Kell Brook it would be completely different.
‘I’ve by no means cheated in my life and I am the one which wished the testing on the combat and in addition the quantity that was in my system might have been by shaking peoples palms.
‘I do not know what drug was in my system. Ostarine. I will be in contact – I’ve by no means cheated in my life and I will by no means cheat.
‘And I am a retired fighter so if I’ve received a two-year ban its fairly unusual and humorous they’ve banned me – I am already retired.
‘I’ve no comeback plans in any respect however like I say I’ve by no means cheated and I by no means will and that is by no means one thing I will do.’
In a press release when saying the ban, UKAD mentioned: ‘Skilled boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for 2 years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations for the presence and use of a Prohibited substance.
‘Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator. The substance is listed on the World Anti-Doping Company’s 2022 Prohibited Record as an anabolic agent and is prohibited in sport always.’
Khan bizarrely claimed his failed medication take a look at may very well be on account of him ‘shaking folks’s palms’
He additionally insisted he ‘by no means has and by no means will cheat’ in his life, whereas saying he’s firmly retired
UKAD’s assertion continued: ‘Mr Khan accepted the violations charged however maintained that his ingestion of ostarine was not “intentional”.
‘The panel additionally disqualified Mr Khan’s outcome from the bout in opposition to Mr Brook.’
Ostarine MK-2866, also referred to as ostarine or enobosarm, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that’s common amongst bodybuilders and athletes for its capacity to construct muscle mass and enhance power with minimal unwanted side effects.
What units Ostarine MK-2866 other than different SARMs is its distinctive capacity to advertise each muscle development and bone well being.
In a medical trial, Ostarine MK-2866 was proven to extend lean physique mass in wholesome males whereas concurrently decreasing fats mass.
Khan misplaced to his long-time rival Brook through a sixth-round TKO within the combat, earlier than he introduced his retirement shortly after the loss.
As he hasn’t fought since then, his ban had been backdated to the time of the provisional suspension in April 2022 – which means it is going to expire in April 2024.
Commenting on the case, UKAD chief govt Jane Rumble mentioned: ‘This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue Anti-Doping Rule Violations with a purpose to defend clear sport.
‘Strict legal responsibility means athletes are in the end chargeable for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a pattern.
‘It will be significant that each one athletes and their assist personnel, no matter stage they’re competing at, take their anti-doping duties critically.
‘Not doing so dangers damaging not solely an athlete’s profession, but in addition undermining public confidence in clear sport.’
Ben Shalom – who was accountable for selling the Khan-Brook combat – revealed he solely came upon about Khan’s optimistic medication take a look at and ban on social media after it was introduced.
He additionally defined how the British Boxing Board of Management’s Robert Smith was knowledgeable about it simply yesterday.
The announcement of Khan’s ban comes on the identical day he appeared on Good Morning Britain when he revealed the impression of a gunpoint theft final 12 months the place he was robbed of a £72,000 watch.
Khan was leaving a restaurant with spouse Faryal in Leyton, east London, on April 18 when he was confronted by an armed robber who threatened him stealing his diamond-encrusted watch.
Khan mentioned: ‘Look, I am very choosy now the place I am going. I decide and select what time I am going to locations and be sure that typically I take safety with me if I received to a really busy place.
‘But it surely’s made life a bit tougher now to simply journey by myself or with my household to locations the place I might usually go.
‘Because it’s occurred to me, I’m somewhat bit scared now once I go to completely different locations.’
Presenter Kate Garraway mentioned Khan’s admission was all of the extra thought-provoking as he’s knowledgeable fighter.
He mentioned: ‘The factor is, when you may have a household, you may have youngsters, you suppose in a different way and also you do all the pieces for them.
‘So, I simply need to be sure that I will be secure. I need to see them develop up and I need to be a task mannequin for them.’
Khan turned one of many largest names in British boxing after he rose to fame when he received an silver medal on the 2004 Athens Olympics for Nice Britain on the age of simply 17 – changing into Britain’s youngest boxing medalist within the course of.
Throughout a formidable profession, he turned super-lightweight world champion and took half in main fights in opposition to the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Danny Garcia amongst others.
Khan accepted the violations however maintained his ‘ingestion of ostarine was not “intentional”‘
An unbiased panel dominated Khan had dedicated a violation however had not executed so deliberately
After retiring in Could of final 12 months within the aftermath of his combat with Brook, Khan claimed it was ‘the appropriate time to stroll away’.
‘It was behind my thoughts to name it a day and after the combat the love for the game wasn’t there anymore and I then determined to name it a day,’ he mentioned.
‘My household inspired me to stroll away. I need to see my youngsters develop up, being away from dwelling and your loved ones may be very exhausting.
‘Over 20 years within the sport of boxing and not less than I am in place that I can stroll away from the game and all the pieces is in tact.’ Khan ended his profession with 34 wins from 40 fights.