Japan's Kenichi Ogawa has been stripped of his International Boxing Federation super featherweight title and suspended for six months for failing a doping test last December, his Teiken Gym said Thursday.

News of the positive test broke in January, more than a month after Ogawa won the then-vacant title and improved to 23-1 (17 knockouts) by beating American Tevin Farmer in a split decision on Dec 9 in Las Vegas.

According to numerous reported, Ogawa tested positive for two forms of androstanediol, a synthetic testosterone, in a urine test conducted Dec. 5, with the result not known until after the bout.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission invalidated the fight and determined a six-month ban for the 30-year-old Ogawa at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, it said.

In a statement released by Teiken Gym in January, Ogawa denied knowingly taking a banned substance.

"One cannot deny that the tests were positive. But I never intentionally took a banned substance. We will cooperate fully so the cause can be discovered," Ogawa said.

A source close to the matter said at the time that medicine for Ogawa's skin condition may have triggered the positive result, with the boxer having submitted the medication in question to the NSAC.

IN OTHER NEWS: Ryan Aston says it is “now or never” for his title aspirations as he gets back into the squared circle on April 21st.

The 27-year-old middleweight has not fought since taking a points victory over Cristian Hoskin-Gomez on July 23rd last year and will take on Wiltshire-based Anthony Fox on BCB Promotions’ “Time To Shine” show at Walsall Town Hall, sponsored by Grosvenor Casino Walsall, thos weekend.

Aston took two disappointing defeats on his record in 2016, to Ahmet Patterson for the IBF International Super-Welterweight title and then to Craig Cunningham for the Midlands Area Middleweight belt.

But Aston responded strongly in 2017 with points wins over Gomez and Deividas Sajauka and now, with Fox next on the agenda, Aston is determined to move past four and six round fights and move back into title contention.