Clueless: Amir Khan says positive drug test “could have been from drinking from someone’s drink”

BN: How do you mirror in your testing positive for the banned substance ostarine? 

AK: The solely little trace of unhappiness in my profession is the drug-testing factor. If you have a look at the quantity that was present in my blood — everybody has stated this, however — UKAD [UK Anti-Doping] have finished an announcement. They stated that it’s unintentional, and as a substitute of giving me a four-year ban, they gave me a two-year ban. You know why? Because I didn’t have the supply to show the way it bought into my system. If I’d given them the supply of the way it bought into my system, I might have gained the case. It’s not like I misplaced the case, as a result of they stated that I didn’t cheat. I’m not a cheater.

It’s a little bit of a tragic factor, as a result of it wasn’t going to offer me any profit, what was present in my system. It wasn’t going to offer me any profit within the battle. It wasn’t going to make me any stronger; any quicker. I’ll provide you with an instance, the quantity that was in my physique — say you bought an Olympic-sized swimming pool; one grain of salt. That’s all they discovered — that’s the equal. That’s what it was.

BN: Do you understand how it bought there?

AK: No. I want I knew. If I did know, and I’d given a sound cause to UKAD, I’d have been okay.

BN: You stayed in your ft whereas taking quite a lot of punishment from Kell Brook…

AK: That was roadwork from Bomac [then-trainer Brian McIntyre]. Trust me. Lots of people shall be saying, “Maybe because he was taking something”. I’ve probably not heard anybody say that, but when you consider it, I did all that roadwork — the coaching was totally different. It’s all within the guide [Khan’s autobiography Fight For Your Life]. We would run each day. The quantity of train that we did on the legs — I’ve realised now, perhaps me taking place [previously] was in all probability not my chin. I feel it’s not having the strongest legs. Kell Brook is a tough hitter. He’s a giant puncher — and he didn’t put me down, and he caught me with a very good shot, however my legs nonetheless stored me up. It was the power within the legs that stored me standing.

Another instance of that’s once I fought in opposition to [in 2010, Marcos] Maidana. [Conditioner] Alex Ariza had me working each day, and the legs have been strong. Look on the different factor — Danny Garcia once I fought him [in 2012]. I bought put down. Who educated me for that battle? Not Alex Ariza. When I’ve educated on my legs — Alex is one other coach who trains the legs solidly — you’d be capable of take a shot. So perhaps the weak point was the legs.

BN: If you hadn’t retired would you be attempting to clear your title? 

AK: One hundred per cent. I’d have gone to UKAD and finished a full investigation and made certain my title come out clear. It was simply because I retired [that I didn’t]. “It makes no difference. I’m not going to fight again.” But the [uncertainty, from the public’s perspective…

It could have been from drinking from someone’s drink. A lot of my friends are on steroids, because they want to be big. The new thing is that everyone wants to be on steroids. I might have shared a drink with someone. But I’ve never cheated in boxing.

BN: Brook recently told Boxing News that it was you who demanded testing…

AK: I’m the one who said that I wanted drug testing. Can you believe that? Everything, I put in the book, because I know I’ve never been a cheater. Look at the performance I had [Khan was stopped in the sixth] I had nothing left. I used to be a flat fighter in that battle. I didn’t wish to be there. If I knew I used to be on one thing I’d have psyched myself up. “I’m on this, and I’m gonna be stronger.”

The full interview with Amir Khan shall be within the subsequent version of Boxing News.