LIGHT-heavyweight contender Imam Khataev has reportedly been banned for two years after testing positive for Clomifene.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) reported the news yesterday (July 8), which comes as a major blow to Khataev, who was scheduled to compete this Saturday night.
In their statement, the Swiss-based organisation said:
“The ITA reports that athlete Imam Khataev was sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility after testing positive for Clomifene and its metabolites following an out-of-competition doping control on 9 April 2024.
“Clomifene is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as an S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulator. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a specified substance. Clomifene can be used by athletes to increase testosterone levels.
“The sanction was issued by the ITA on behalf of the IBA in accordance with article 8.3.3 of the IBA anti-doping rules (and the equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code). The period of ineligibility is effective from 26 June 2025 until 25 June 2027, and the athlete’s results have been disqualified from 9 April 2024 onwards.
“Parties with a right of appeal may challenge the decision before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in accordance with article 13.2 of the IBA anti-doping rules.
“The ITA will not comment further on this case.”
Since the test Khataev, 10-0 (9 KOs), has fought four more times and won on each occasion.
This Friday night at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist was due to face Cuban talent David Morrell in a clash of top-15 contenders on The Ring III event. At time of writing no announcement on the fight from The Ring or Turki Alalshikh had been made. The card is headlined by Edgar Berlanga vs Hamzah Sheeraz and also features Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda and Albert Puello vs Subriel Matias.
Clomifene gained widespread attention in 2022 when Conor Benn failed two tests for the substance — the second of which caused the cancellation of his October clash with Chris Eubank Jr. The pair eventually met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26, five months after Benn was cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).
