Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan Rematch In Jeopardy After Peterson Tests Positive For Banned Substance
A unique turn of events has put the highly anticipated May 19th rematch between Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan in jeopardy. On Monday afternoon, word began to spread that Lamont Peterson — who defeated Amir Khan in an entertaining but highly controversial bout last December — had tested positive for a banned substance. Many questions were left unanswered as the hours passed until Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer held an impromptu conference call to shed light on the situation.
Schaefer says that Nevada State Athletic Commission’s executive director Keith Kizer received a letter from the Voluntary Anti Doping Agency (VADA) over the weekend which stated that Lamont Peterson had tested positive for a substance consistent of a steroid. Schaefer says that there was a urine specimen taken from both Khan and Peterson back on March 19 2012 during an unannouced and unscheduled visit following their press conference in Los Angeles. The specimen was transported to a UCLA lab and were split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples. The original findings in Peterson’s ‘A’ sample were reported on April 12. Nobody from Golden Boy Promotions or Amir Khan’s team were notified of the findings. Peterson, however, was notified on April 13 or the results and advised him of the right to have the ‘B’ sample analyzed. That test took place on April 30. The findings in the ‘B’ sample were consistent of the ‘A’ sample, which showed something consistent of an anabolic steroid like testosterone. Strangely enough, follow up samples were taken from Peterson on the April 13 and those results came back negative.
What makes people raise an eyebrow to this entire fiasco is the fact that the results were not made available until yesterday. Schaefer is equally as baffled by what happened.
“I find it shocking that I wasn’t copied or Team Khan wasn’t copied on the letter,” Schaefer said on the call. “Why it took so long (for the ‘B” sample to be tested) is again a mystery to me. If I had been informed I would have asked for an expedited testing instead of waiting two weeks.”
Had Golden Boy or Team Khan been informed, they could have began looking at other options for the scheduled May 19th fight on HBO. But now, considering that we are less than two weeks away from their showdown for Peterson’s WBA (Super) and IBF Light Welterweight titles, everything could be thrown out of wack.
Currently, Peterson’s attorneys are preparing statements and submitting paperwork to the NSAC explaining why there was a banned substance found. Once they have received those papers they will preset that to the commission and the chairman will rule whether or not there will be a fight or not. Schaefer says a decision should be made in the next 24-48 hours.
“This again demonstrates the importance of random drug testing is for our sport,” Schaefer said. “This is not about hitting a baseball, running faster or jumping higher. This is toe to toe battle where someone’s life can be at risk.”
