Why is Amir Khan banned from boxing for 2 years? Read the full UKAD statement

Retired British boxer Amir Khan has been banned from all sports by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after testing positive for a banned substance.

The 36-year-old was handed a two-year ban over ostarine being found in a urine sample he turned in after his losing his last fight against Kell Brook in February 2022.

Banned from use in all sports, ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) designed to promote muscle building and has a similar effect to testosterone. After Khan's sample was found to contain the substance, his case was referred to an independent tribunal.

The panel found Amir Khan guilty of two violations, the presence of a prohibited substance and the use of a prohibited substance. The guilty ruling was confirmed in writing in February, and the now-retired pugilist will have to serve a ban until April 5, 2024.

UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble stated in an official statement:

"This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue Anti-Doping Rule Violations in order to protect clean sport... Strict liability means athletes are ultimately responsible for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a sample."

The 36-year-old British boxer is no longer active and announced his retirement in May 2022 after winning 34 of his 40 fights and securing silver at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

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Amir Khan banned: British boxer denies any intentional wrongdoing

Amir Khan recently addressed the two-year ban handed to him by UKAD and claimed that he's never cheated in his professional career. The retired boxer claimed that while he accepted breaking the anti-doping rules, it was not intentional, and he had no idea how it got into his system.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Khan stated:

"I've never cheated in my life. I'm a retired fighter, and at the same time, you can see by my performance against Kell Brook... I lost the fight. If I went in there and knocked Brook out, it's different... I'm the one who wanted the testing on the fight and also, the amount that was in my system could have been by shaking people's hands."

Amir Khan became the WBA light-welterweight champion after beating Andreas Kotelnik in July 2009. He went on to win the IBF belt against Zab Judah in July 2011. Unfortunately, Khan lost both his titles to Lamont Peterson in December 2011.

Khan faced Kell Brook for his final professional bout in February 2022. Brook defeated him via sixth-round knockout. Khan retired from the sport three months later, finishing his career with a record of 34-6.