“IT’S a hatchet job,” stated Eddie Hearn when requested about Donald McRae’s highly effective Guardian investigation into the promoter and his dealing with of boxers who’ve failed drug exams.
What Hearn makes of Amir Khan failing a check in February final 12 months is unknown, however, given that it’s been 14 months since Khan misplaced to Kell Brook (a interval through which the picture of Conor Benn was very publicly ruined by his failure to move two efficiency enhancing drug exams), Amir’s case remaining personal for thus lengthy could be deemed as one other proverbial slap in the face.
But the variations between the circumstances of Khan and Benn are stark. Both of Benn’s exams got here earlier than he was attributable to face Chris Eubank Jnr and the criticism levelled at each Hearn and Benn subsequently, a minimum of from Boxing News’ standpoint, was purely a consequence of how badly the scenario was managed. Khan’s check occurred instantly after he suffered a thrashing at the arms of Kell Brook when he lasted into the sixth spherical, and, as a result of the battle had already taken place, there was no obligation to alert anybody aside from the athlete in query. BN understands that the British Boxing Board of Control have been notified of Khan’s scenario on Monday April 3, with the promoter of Brook-Khan, Ben Shalom, solely listening to about it when the story broke the following day. Khan complied with the investigation into the findings of United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD). The circumstances of Benn and Khan, due to this fact, are comparable solely as a result of each boxers have been caught will unlawful substances of their our bodies.
That shouldn’t imply we now brush off the severity of Khan’s misdemeanor, nonetheless. The defeat to previous rival Brook was arduous for him to abdomen however failing a check in the aftermath – and subsequently being banned for 2 years – is a grim method to say goodbye. Regardless of the explanation why the check was failed, it would likely tarnish each his legacy in British boxing and his popularity in the wider world. Another reminder, we hope, that the buck stops with the athlete who failed the check.
Almost instantly after the loss to Brook, on February 19, 2022, Khan equipped a urine pattern to UKAD. On April 6, the boxer – then nonetheless mulling over his future – was knowledgeable that ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that, in keeping with UKAD, is designed to have comparable results to testosterone, had been present in the pattern. On July 20, UKAD formally charged the by-now retired Khan with two anti-doping violations which have been accepted by the boxer whereas insisting the ingestion of the banned substance was not “intentional”. Consequently, his case was referred to the National Anti-Doping Panel. After a tribunal in January this 12 months, it was dominated on February 21 that the violations had been proved.
However, “deliberate or reckless conduct” was dominated out by UKAD. Khan accepting duty for the substance being in his physique meant that his ban was set at two years, versus 4. “Strict liability means athletes are ultimately responsible for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a sample,” UKAD chief government, Jane Rumble, defined. “It is important that all athletes and their support personnel, whatever level they are competing at, take their anti-doping responsibilities seriously. Not doing so risks damaging not only an athlete’s career, but also undermining public confidence in clean sport.”
“I am a retired fighter,” Khan informed Sky News on Tuesday April 4. “You can see by my efficiency towards Kell Brook, it wasn’t the finest. I misplaced the battle. If I went in there and knocked Kell Brook out it’s completely different. I’ve by no means cheated in my life, I’m the just one who needed to get the testing accomplished.
“The amount that was in my system could have come from shaking peoples’ hands. I don’t know what the drug was in my system… I would never cheat.”
It’s tempting to say it’s a well-known story. Certainly, had Khan have thrown his arms in the air and stated, ‘Fair cop, I was trying to gain an advantage in a fight I was desperate win,’ he would have been the first elite boxer to confess it. It may additionally have been simpler to forgive. For these of us who’ve lengthy admired Khan, it’s a crushing disappointment.
What is undebatable, nonetheless, is that that is the greatest story to return out of the boxing world since the Benn debacle final October. Which is precisely why it’s now extra vital than ever earlier than that, collectively, the sport ensures it’s on the entrance foot with regards to doping. What we actually don’t want, for instance, is an announcement that on June 3, Benn will return to motion in Abu Dhabi earlier than he has stood in entrance of UKAD and responded to their questions.
Any promoter who retains working with fighters who’ve failed exams ought to anticipate criticism. And any member of the media who speaks out about such behaviour ought to be applauded. The sport’s popularity, or what’s left of it, is at stake.
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