‘Bemusing to say the least’ – Promoter of Amir Khan vs Kell Brook fight reveals he only found out about Khan’s positive drugs test via social media

Boxing promoter Ben Shalom has expressed his shock at only finding out about Amir Khan’s two-year ban via social media on Tuesday morning.

It was revealed earlier how the 36-year-old had tested positive for banned substance ostarine following his defeat to Kell Brook.

Getty

Shalom (middle) promoted the fight between Khan and Brook last year

Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

British legend Khan has received a two-year ban from sport after testing positive for a banned substance

Khan, who retired after being stopped by Brook last year in the sixth round, has since been banned from all sport until 2025.

The former world champion has defended himself since the shocking news broke, insisting he isn’t a ‘cheat’ and will take the necessary steps to clear his name.

According to UKAD (UK Anti-Doping), Khan consumed ostarine, which is a drug designed to have similar effects to testosterone, unintentionally.

Fans have been left stunned by the positive drugs test, while also being in disbelief that it has taken over a year for the adverse findings to come to light.

Shalom, whose BOXXER promotion hosted the event between Khan and Brook, has revealed he is as surprised as anyone having found out when the public did.

Speaking on the White and Jordan show about Khan’s positive test, Shalom said: “We’re in the same boat as you, we only found out this morning via social media.

Amir Khan BANNED from boxing for two years after testing positive for banned drug

Shane McMahon tore his quad at WrestleMania so Snoop Dogg improvised to save the day

Watch Tony Bellew get escorted away from angry altercation with Jermaine Franklin’s team

Joshua does funny impression of Fury’s call-out videos after Franklin win

Jermaine Franklin says referee meant Anthony Joshua bout was like ‘fighting two people’

Dana White and Vince McMahon confirm £17.3billion UFC-WWE merger

“So we’re as shocked as you guys are, ultimately it was a post-fight test it seems, both fighters were VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) tested, UKAD tested rigorously during the whole promotion, nothing.

“No adverse findings whatsoever, we didn’t even know there was any issue up until this morning on social media.

“So it’s a strange one for us as well, I don’t want to comment on Amir because that’s something to do with him, but from our perspective, the first time we found this out was on social media this morning.”

He continued: “I can’t quite believe why we’ve only found out via social media.

Sky Sports News

Khan has insisted he isn’t a ‘cheat’ after news broke of his positive test on Tuesday

“Not only have we only found out this morning, but we had no official notification from anyone.

“So it’s very difficult as we’re staunchly against this, we always have been, it’s the very root of what we stand for, it is a problem in the sport.

“I think this shows even more so, but we’re as shocked to find out as you guys are, but to find out via social media with no notification whatsoever is bemusing to say the least.

“But also, maybe the adverse finding has only just been found as of yesterday, I don’t know, I don’t what to accuse UKAD of not going through the right process.

“I called Robert Smith [general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control] as soon as I saw it on social media this morning, he said he only found out yesterday.

“So I found out on social media today, so that’s where we are currently at.”

Shalom added: “Questions need to be asked of UKAD, they’re saying that he didn’t intentionally take the substance, but he’s still on a strict liability basis being banned from the sport.

Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER

Khan retired after being knocked out by Brook last year

“And that’s what we always stand behind, regardless of whether it is intentional or not, but I think that the questions need to be posed at UKAD as to what process they followed here and why the promoter – and the board who only found out yesterday – why have we only been informed now?

“On the fight week they would have both been tested, you couldn’t have gotten anymore rigorous testing that what we put in place, it cost us tens and tens of thousands of pounds, so to see this now is not only surprising to us, but also makes us question what UKAD have been doing since the fight.”

Shalom then insisted that he believes Khan is a clean athlete and consumed the banned substance unknowingly, but claimed his ban is the right thing.

He said: “This is a very important point, what they have found is clearly an extreme trace that had no performing enhancing abilities.

“What they found also was that it wasn’t intentional, however, they’re still giving him a two-year ban, which is the correct thing to do.

“Amir Khan is a clean athlete, he’s been exemplary in the sport throughout his whole career, so I’m surprised to see this, I’m not surprised that it was unintentional.

“I’m not surprised that it was traced, however, it still needs to be treated in a way where it ends with a massive ban.”