Imam Khataev's adverse finding jeopardizes Saturday fight versus David Morrell

The fate of Russian light-heavyweight Imam Khataev’s ability to participate in a Saturday night match versus Cuba’s David Morrell is in limbo following a decision rendered by the International Testing Agency over an adverse PED test result.

The result, from an April 9, 2024 sample from Khataev, was positive for Clomifene, the ITA reported in a Wednesday statement, in which it declared Khataev is ineligible to compete effective June 25 until June 25, 2027.

Khataev, 10-0 (9 KOs), is due to fight Morrell 11-1 (9 KOs) on the Turki Alalshikh-financed, DAZN-streamed card from Louis Armstrong tennis stadium in New York Saturday.

“As of now, it’s still going, but I don’t know how it’s all going to play out,” said an official connected to the bout, who was unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter as the New York State Athletic Commission has yet to rule on the matter.

In its statement, the ITA said, “Clomifene can be used by athletes to increase testosterone levels.”

Khataev promoter, Eye of the Tiger Promotions, responded to the finding with its own statement, contending the fighter was tested coming out of Ramadan fasting, describing the amount of the banned substance in Khataev as “minute.”

“The adverse finding was unexpected and deeply concerning to Imam,” the promotion wrote. “Imam categorically denies the intentional or knowingly ingestion of any banned substances, and insists that the only possible explanation for this adverse analytical finding is food contamination.

“Indeed, Imam’s anti-doping control took place at dawn during Ramadan, shortly after the nightly feast that breaks the fast. At the time, Imam had a high-protein diet and must have unknowingly consumed clomifene-contaminated food, which, in turn, must have directly affected the adverse analytical finding.”

Khataev has fought four times since the positive sample was gathered, and the promotion detailed the negative tests he’s provided to various testing bodies since while enrolled in the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.

The ITA decision also confirms that “there is no substantive element on record to establish that [Imam’s Anti-Doping Rule Violation] was intentional,” Eye of the Tiger wrote.

“For instance, Imam tested negative just a few months before the adverse finding of April 2024 and at least four (4) times since the ITA doping control of April 2024 … .

“Therefore, Imam did not knowingly or intentionally take anything that would violate any anti-doping regulations. This is all the more the case in light of the numerous anti-doping tests carried out since April 2024, all of which have proved negative.”

The negative results don’t change the outcome of the positive result, however, so the parties are braced for a possible 11th-hour cancellation of the bout.

Morrell is returning from his February 1 unanimous decision loss to unbeaten WBC light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez.

At Wednesday's open workouts in New York, Khataev was absent and Morrell was not questioned on the matter.