Former world champion boxer Amir Khan has been banned from all sports for two years after he violated anti-doping rules by using a prohibited substance. The boxer had an Adverse Analytical Finding for Ostarine in his urine sample, which was collected by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after his fight against Kell Brook in February of last year. According to UKAD, Ostarine is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is designed to have similar effects to testosterone, and it is not approved for human consumption in the UK or anywhere else in the world.
Initially, Khan was given a provisional suspension on April 6, 2022, when he was informed about the matter. The 36-year-old stated that the “ingestion of Ostarine was not intentional” but accepted the violations. UKAD released a statement saying that “Professional boxer and Olympic medallist Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations for the presence and use of a prohibited substance.”
Khan is a former unified world champion at light welterweight and has 34 wins from his 40 fights. He became world champion in 2009 after defeating Ukraine’s Andriy Kotelnik in a World Boxing Association (WBA) super-lightweight bout and added the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt two years later by defeating US opponent Zab Judah. Khan’s last career fight was against Kell Brook in Manchester in February, which he lost in the sixth round.
It is worth noting that Khan retired from boxing in May last year, meaning that his ban will expire in April 2024 as it has been backdated to the time of the provisional suspension. “This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue Anti-Doping Rule Violations in order to protect clean sport,” UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble said. “Strict liability means athletes are ultimately responsible for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a sample.”
In conclusion, Amir Khan has been banned from all sports for two years after violating anti-doping rules. The boxer tested positive for Ostarine, a prohibited substance, after his fight against Kell Brook in February of last year. While Khan stated that his ingestion of Ostarine was not intentional, he accepted the violations. UKAD has reminded all athletes and their support personnel to take their anti-doping responsibilities seriously, as not doing so risks damaging an athlete’s career and undermining public confidence in clean sport.
