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Amir Khan on Peterson Keeping Title: 'What's the Point of Drug Tests?'

Amir Khan isn't thrilled with the news that his former rival Lamont Peterson will be keeping the IBF title after failing a drug test. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Amir Khan isn't thrilled with the news that his former rival Lamont Peterson will be keeping the IBF title after failing a drug test. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
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Amir Khan, who controversially lost his IBF and WBA junior welterweight titles to Lamont Peterson last December, isn't pleased with today's news that the IBF has decided to let Peterson keep his title belt, even after Peterson failed a drug test, which canceled a May rematch, and admitted to having taken synthetic testosterone before their 2011 bout. He took to Twitter to discuss the matter this morning:

"I read somewhere, IBF give Peterson the title and heard he is fighting [Judah] next. Wow, so it must be ok to take drugs in boxing + still box ... Peterson was caught juiced up so WBA reinstated the title back. IBF I heard have peterson still champ and NO ban. What's point of drug tests ... I'm not bitter 1 bit about [what] the IBF have done, its [just] unfair in sport. Getting caught taking drugs. Lol he can keep the title and the W."

Khan (26-3, 18 KO) also lost his most recent fight on July 14, against Danny Garcia. He's been an outspoken advocate for tougher drug testing in the sport, and has stepped that up since Peterson failed his test earlier this year.

I find it hard to argue much with Khan's take here. If this all goes as a lot of people in boxing would like it to go, Peterson won't really suffer much of a career setback at all. He'll be back, with a title belt to defend against Zab Judah for decent money, before the end of 2012. He still has to get licensed somewhere, but once these things start rolling, they usually all work out in the end.

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