May
07

Lamont Peterson Fails Steroid Test Before Bout with Amir Khan

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Boxer Lamont Peterson, the defending WBA and IBF Light Welterweight Champion, has tested positive for the use of the anabolic steroid testosterone in advance of his rematch against Amir Khan. Ironically, it was Peterson who requested that Khan agree to random blood and urine testing administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) in the build up to the May 19, 2012 rematch.

Amir Khan has been the subject of steroid accusations in the past. Most notably, Floyd Mayweather’s trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather said that “Khan has become the fighter he is, is because he’s got those steroids in his ass.” This was why no one was surprised when Peterson insisted that Khan agree to steroid testing.

Both Peterson and Khan were asked to provide urine samples by an unannounced VADA collections officer at a promotional March 19, 2012 news conference in Los Angeles. Khan passed the VADA steroid testing procedures. But Peterson did not.

Not only did Peterson test positive for the use of exogenous testosterone, his attorney admitted that Peterson had used testosterone prior to his first bout with Khan on December 11, 2011 in the “Capitol Showdown”. Peterson had synthetic testosterone pellets implanted under his arm by his personal physician in November 2011 according to the New York Daily News.

Peterson defeated Khan in an already controversial split decision marked by questionable refereeing and accusations of judging impropriety. With his victory, Peterson took the WBA and IBF Light Welterweight title away from Khan. It is unclear how or if the admission that Peterson used steroids will retroactively determine who is the legitimate title holder.

It is surprising that Peterson would insist on steroid testing when he knew he was using testosterone. Perhaps, he thought that the testosterone pellets were no longer releasing sufficient quantities of testosterone into his system to return a positive steroid test.

Or perhaps he did not count of the use of carbon isotope ratio (CIR) as a screening method for the use of exogenous synthetic testosterone by VADA. While most anti-doping organizations use the flawed testosterone:epitestosterone (T:E) ratio to screen for exogenous testosterone, VADA uses the more expensive but more effective and accurate CIR screen.

Source:

Thompson, T and Red, C. (May 8, 2012). Lamont Peterson used synthetic testosterone pellets before December bout against Amir Khan says lawyer for boxing champ. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/lamont-peterson-synthetic-testosterone-pellets-dec-bout-amir-khan-neveda-state-athletic-commission-article-1.1074567