Amir Khan enrols in WBC's Clean Boxing Program
Wednesday 12 October 2016 10:41, UK
Amir Khan has enrolled in the WBC's Clean Boxing Program after the organisation threatened to drop their number-one ranked welterweight contender from their rankings.
Khan was among 25 fighters who initially failed to meet the October 11 deadline to enroll in the initiative, which is jointly administered by the WBC and the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
The Clean Boxing Program requires random, year-round, unannounced testing for the top 15 fighters in each division. VADA is to conduct the testing, which is aimed at detecting the use of performance enhancing drugs and 'other prohibited methods'.
The WBC has stated that until enrolment is completed, the fighters will not be ranked by the council or able to fight for a title.
That prompted a rethink from Khan, who is the mandatory challenger to WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia.
Khan tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Registered to Clean Boxing with @WBCBoxing @wbcmoro and sent."
David Haye, who was ranked five by the WBC, also failed to enroll meaning he has dropped out of the rankings.
"The enrolment process, which began on May 5, was also extended until today, as the ratings for October are being released," read a statement from the WBC. "Those fighters who did not enroll have been taken out of the WBC ratings."
Other notable boxers opting out of the program, and, consequently no longer ranked by the WBC, are Jean Pascal, Vanes Martirosyan, Lamont Peterson, Rances Barthelemy, Felix Verdejo, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Brian Viloria.
"The WBC is proud of its champions and challengers who have taken a step forward in this historic process to keep our sport clean and most importantly to look out for the health of our athletes and the integrity and honourability of our sport," concluded the council's statement.
