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Khan's drug slur anger

Amir Khan showed his power in beating Marcos Maidana © Getty Images

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Amir Khan has hit back at the "hurtful" rumours of drug use and insisted he and training partner Manny Pacquiao are clean.

Khan is climbing the professional ladder and impressed boxing fans in America when demonstrating class and durability in his recent win over Marcos Maidana.

There was a fear that the gritty points victory over Maidana would be overshadowed by accusations from the Maidana camp. The Bolton has stated the claims about himself and training partner Pacquiao are without foundation.

"It is hurtful," Khan told the Daily Star on Sunday. "I am drug tested and have never tested positive because I am so clean. I don't even drink. I would never, ever take a banned substance. I would never cheat in sport. Why would I want to cheat in sport or take drugs? I am too scared to take something like that because I train so hard and my body is so fit.

"When people say these things about you, they are just trying to make you look bad.

"Why don't people say Maidana is on something because the power he has got is mad? He has got power that not many fighters have. I think a lot of people are jealous."

Khan works under the guidance of Freddie Roach who also trains Pacquiao. The Filipino is arguably the pound-for-pound king of the ring, but controversy has followed him on account of the failure to agree a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr because of a row over pre-fight drug testing.

Khan feels the slurs are unfair, as he claims Pacquiao is a clean fighter. He said: "I have been hit by Manny Pacquiao's best shot and not gone down.

"I have seen his speed and power and still think he is a normal, clean fighter who is not on drugs. Manny is wary of any drugs and dislikes injections of any kind."

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