Former world champion boxer Amir Khan has been banned for two years following a doping test that revealed the presence of a prohibited substance called Ostarine after his fight against Kell Brook in 2022.
The UK Anti-Doping agency collected Khan’s urine sample, which had an Adverse Analytical Finding for Ostarine. Khan, who was informed of the provisional suspension on April 6, 2022, admitted to the Anti-Doping Rule Violations but claimed that he did not intentionally ingest Ostarine.
UKAD stated that Ostarine is a drug designed to mimic testosterone and is not approved for human consumption anywhere in the world. It is commonly used in dietary supplements that claim to promote muscle building.
Despite the ban, it is important to note that Khan retired from boxing in May 2022, and his suspension will expire in April 2024, as it has been backdated to the time of the provisional suspension.
In a Tweet, UK Anti-Doping agency said that Amir Khan banned from all sports for two years.
It wrote, “Professional boxer Amir Khan has been banned from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the presence and use of a Prohibited Substance.”
Khan, who was a unified world champion at light welterweight, won 34 of his 40 fights, including defeating Andriy Kotelnik in a World Boxing Association (WBA) super-lightweight bout and two years later he defeated Zab Judah to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt.
The UKAD chief executive, Jane Rumble, emphasized that athletes are responsible for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a sample, and not taking their anti-doping responsibilities seriously could damage not only an athlete’s career but also undermine public confidence in clean sport.
Amir Khan’s ban from all sports for two years following his Anti-Doping Rule Violations is a reminder that doping is a severe offense and has severe consequences for athletes. The use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) not only violates fair play but also endangers the health of athletes and undermines the integrity of sport.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has strict rules and regulations in place to prevent the use of PEDs and ensure fair play in sports. The agency uses several testing methods, including urine and blood samples, to detect the use of prohibited substances.
UKAD’s diligent pursuit of Anti-Doping Rule Violations in Khan’s case shows that the agency takes its responsibility to protect clean sport seriously. Athletes at all levels of competition must take their anti-doping responsibilities seriously and be aware of the risks associated with taking dietary supplements, which can contain prohibited substances.
The fact that Khan’s ban has been backdated to the time of his provisional suspension reflects the importance of fair play and the consequences of violating the rules. Khan’s career has come to an end, but the impact of his actions will remain.
Khan is not the first athlete to be banned for doping, and he won’t be the last. However, every instance of doping should serve as a reminder to athletes that PEDs are not worth the risk and that clean sport is the only way to preserve the integrity of competition.
