Retired British boxer Amir Khan has been banned for two years after an anti-doping test revealed the presence of a prohibited substance.
The former light-welterweight world champion, who claims he’s never cheated, tested positive for ostarine following his fight against Kell Brook in February 2022.
The 36-year-old, who retired from boxing in May, accepted he broke anti-doping rules but said it was not intentional.
An independent tribunal accepted that argument, ruling out deliberate or reckless conduct by Khan.
The UK Anti-Doping website states that ostarine is a drug designed to have similar effects to testosterone.
The ban from all sport is deemed to have begun on 6 April 2022 and expires on 5 April 2024.
Khan, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics as a 17-year-old, turned professional in 2005.
In 2009 he became world champion, defeating Andreas Kotelnik at Manchester Arena for the WBA light-welterweight title. His win over Zab Judah in 2011 earned him the IBF belt and unified champion status. Khan then lost the titles in his next fight to Lamont Peterson.
He was beaten by Brook via a sixth-round knockout in what proved to be his final professional bout.
Khan retired from the sport three months later, finishing his career with 34 professional wins and six losses, having turned professional in 2005.