The heavily anticipated rematch between Britain’s Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson, scheduled for May 19, has been called off after the American tested positive for testosterone, organizers said on Wednesday.
Peterson, who beat Khan in controversial circumstances to win the WBA super-lightweight and IBF light-welterweight belts in December, failed a drug test administered by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in March.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer confirmed earlier this week that Peterson tested positive from the A and B samples taken in March, but gave a negative test in follow-up samples from 13 April.
A statement from Peterson’s camp said they would submit medical findings to the commission “reflecting the facts in support of Lamont’s good faith intentions” in the hope of securing the license needed to fight in Nevada.
For the fight in Las Vegas to go ahead, Peterson needed to win a licensing appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
However, the ruling body was unable to hold a formal hearing until May 15, forcing the cancellation of the bout, Khan’s promoters, Golden Boy Promotions, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Peterson’s team had promised to present its defense to the Nevada Athletic Commission earlier this week for the commissions chairman to then rule on whether or not the May 19 fight would go ahead.
“Unless he has got some really enlightening defense here, he will not be licensed for May 19,” Nevada Athletic Commission executive Keith Kizer said.
A statement from Peterson’s camp said they would submit medical findings to the commission “reflecting the facts in support of Lamont’s good faith intentions” in the hope of securing the license needed to fight in Nevada.
The fighters were due to meet for a second time on 19 May after the World Boxing Association ordered a rematch following Peterson’s controversial victory over Khan on 10 December of last year.
