Amir Khan calls for compulsory drug testing in boxing

Amir Khan says compulsory drug testing must be introduced in boxing in an attempt to clean up the sport. The British former light-welterweight world champion lost his WBA and IBF belts to Lamont Peterson in December but the Washington fighter has recently failed a drug test. Khan, 25, told BBC Radio 5 live that taking on Peterson had been "like fighting two people". "All fighters should be tested before and after a fight," he added. "It will make the sport cleaner and that's what we need." The Bolton-based fighter had been due to meet Peterson in a rematch of their controversial December bout on Saturday. But the fight was cancelled after Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone. Peterson says he took the testosterone for medical reasons and has rejected calls from Khan to surrender his WBA and IBF belts. But Khan said: "I think he knows deep down he did wrong. It's a shame the fight didn't happen. I trained out of my skin and wanted to win those titles back." Peterson has apologised for the fight being cancelled but Khan said: "It will take more than an apology for what happened last December, my life was at risk. One punch can change a fighter's life. "The way he kept coming forward after he was put down twice in the first round, the way he was recovering, I knew this was not the same Lamont Peterson I had been watching in videos, this guy was totally different. "It was like fighting two people in the ring. I was hurting him and putting him down and he was still coming forward. "I have fought big punchers like Marcos Maidana and other names out there and he seemed to punch harder, be a lot fitter than them. It just shows that performance enhancing drugs do make a difference and I saw the difference. "He should be punished for what he did." Khan said he now wanted the independent Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to be involved before and after all his future fights and hoped more fighters would follow suit. One of those fights could be against WBC champion Danny Garcia, whom Khan said he is hoping to meet in July. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/18112583

Comments (12)

What's the story behind the testosterone use? It's not illegal if prescribed and your testosterone levels aren't out of whack

14y ago

Jaso

Why are people thanking Floyd Mayweather? Mayweathers olympic style testing would not have caught Peterson, FACT! We have to thank VADA.

14y ago

sammiza567

lol at khan please get knocked out hahaha

14y ago

1q3er5

Wait a minute. Peterson's testo levels were under the max allowed. So Khan admits having trouble with basically a normal fighter? Peterson "cheated" just be on par with the rest of the fighters. And he was like two people in the ring? Is Khan that weak? You shouldn't post messages until you know what your talking about...

14y ago

boxingfeind

If there is compulsory testing in boxing how is his friend Pacquiao gonna beat weight drained plodders then? I thought Khan was cool with Pacquiao,why is he trying to stop Pacquiao`s hustle?

14y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

Seemed to punch harder? He'd have been KO if Peterson hit anywhere close to the power of Maidana. Thats funny because Maidana hit close to the power of Maidana and he couldn't KO Khan. Herp de derp.

14y ago

Box3r

Seemed to punch harder? He'd have been KO if Peterson hit anywhere close to the power of Maidana. Agree, even though im his fan but he does talk dack at times...

14y ago

Box3r

how can anyone like this little pr*ck i'll never know. so how's about your buddy pacquiao then, why not try telling him this? and khan is obviously taking all kinds of oral PEDs. how else could he run his mouth as he does? sure isn't natural that. Your an idiot!!

14y ago

Jam_Jars

Seemed to punch harder? He'd have been KO if Peterson hit anywhere close to the power of Maidana.

14y ago

Weebler_I

Khan is correct, hope it happens.

14y ago

frostyg

14y ago

FlatLine

This could turn out to be a paradigm shift in boxing started by Khan and Mayweather, but maybe it wont have much wider impact. Could just turn out to be an additional security measure for boxers who are already high earners and able to afford the testing.

14y ago