• Light-welterweight

Khan: Peterson should be banned for life

ESPN staff
May 29, 2012
Amir Khan says Lamont Peterson has 'lost everything' © Getty Images
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Amir Khan has implored the authorities to ban Lamont Peterson for life for failing a drugs test, claiming the American "could have killed me".

Khan is still fuming after learning that Peterson used synthetic testosterone during their fight in December, with Peterson subsequently testing positive for the banned substance prior to the arranged rematch earlier this month.

Peterson relieved Khan of the WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles in a controversial points win at the end of last year and, while Khan has asked for his belts back, his main gripe is not seeing athletes punished severely enough for cheating.

"Anyone who has been done for drugs should be banned for life," he said in the Daily Telegraph. "Peterson failed a test and that should be his punishment. I have seen athletes get back after two years and I just don't think that is right. I have always volunteered for testing and everyone should.

"If a boxer fails a drugs test he should never be allowed to fight again because, even after two years whatever he has been taking is still in his body in my books.

"I know there are a lot of fighters out there who take stuff because of the way they fight. I am lucky to have natural talent but there are a lot of fighters out there who take shortcuts. There is only one way to catch them and that's why I urge that everyone should be tested. It is worth it to make the sport clean and the fights safe."

Peterson says he will clear his name, insisting he was unaware that the use of testosterone pellets was illegal. However, Khan has little sympathy for any boxer who fails to take responsibility for what goes into their system.

He said: "He knew himself what he took as a professional boxer. He should have checked everything but he didn't declare anything. I really think he should be punished because he was a threat, not only to my life, but his own life as well.

"When you are on something and in a fight, and you keep coming back stronger, you could be a threat to yourself. I know when track and field athletes get caught they get between two and three years.

"I don't know what the authorities will do but I really do think he should end up getting a ban. He should be made an example of for other fighters. I have been tested all the time since I was 16, right since I began and went to the Olympics. I have lost count about the exact numbers but it must have been over a hundred times."

Khan is so forthright in his views that he will now not agree to fight anybody unless they agree to random blood and urine tests; Danny Garcia, who is up next for Khan on July 14 in Las Vegas, has already met the terms.

"They [VADA - the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association] have asked me if I want to do more drugs testing and I've said 'yes'.

"Every fight now, I'm going to insist on drug testing. Even though it costs a lot of money it needs to be done, and I'm still going to push for it in every fight I have. I'm clean and I want a fair fight. It is a risk to my life. I have insisted on it for the Garcia fight and he had to agree to that."

For all of his anger, Khan did intimate he feels somewhat sorry for Peterson. He added: "Peterson has lost a lot of respect. He must be having sleepless nights after losing 1.5 million dollars for our second fight.

"It was easily the biggest purse of his of his life and it would have changed his life for ever. But, instead, he has lost his titles and his respect. He has lost everything. He would have been remembered in Washington as a legend and now he has thrown all of that away."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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