The pair are due to meet for a second time at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.
The immediate rematch had been ordered by the WBA after Peterson
defeated Khan in controversial circumstances to claim the Brits
welterweight titles by split decision on December 10th last year.

However, the fight looks to be in doubt after Peterson, who with Khan agreed to the random blood and urine tests by the (VADA) Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on March 19th.

Asif Vali,
Khan’s business manager today spoke out about the positive test saying
he was shocked, but believed the fight will still go ahead. “Obviously
last night it was a shock when I received the call to say Lamont had
failed a drug test. However, the Peterson team seem to think that
something’s gone wrong during the very first VADA drug test which Lamont
took in March. Their explanation is that it’s something he took earlier
on in the year — before the last fight.”

“The
fight’s on. Obviously the Nevada commission will come back to us with
their findings. They’ll look at things quite in depth before they make a
final decision. That decision’s due to come to us by the end of play
today.” added Vali.

After
losing his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles to Peterson in the
American’s hometown of Washington, last year. Khan complained to the
boxing commissions, where he highlighted several misderminers, mainly
being referee Joseph Cooper’s deduction of two points, the judges’
scoring of the bout and the unexplained presence of ‘mystery man’
Mustafa Ameen at ringside.

Peterson test positive

Khan who has been training in the Phillapines with his coach Freddie Roach and team Manny Pacquiao has now returned to LA and Roaches Wildcard gym and is said to be in tremendous shape with just 11 days to go before the proposed fight.

Peterson’s publicist Andre Johnson
issued a statement on behalf of the boxer and his manager Barry Hunter,
which read: “We have tremendous respect for VADA and its mission.
Lamont, Barry and the entire team emphatically support random drug
testing in the most comprehensive manner possible.

“We
are working expeditiously with a team of pathologists and other medical
specialists to confirm the origin of the test result and in full
compliance with the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

“Lamont
has never had a positive test either before or after this isolated
occurrence, and we plan to submit medical findings by close of business
today reflecting the actual facts in support of Lamont’s good faith
intentions and the requirements of the commission.”

Lets
not pass judgement before we have all the facts, but lets hope that
this is a mistake on someones behalf and that Peterson has adhered to
all the rules accordingly, it would be tragic if this fight falls
through and even more tragic if the worst case senario comes to light,
its on tenter hooks right now.


By Chris Maylett