By Michael Collins: IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson finally spoke out about his testing positive for synthetic testosterone recently in an interview with the BBC. Peterson says he’s not a cheat, and he plans on trying to clear his name when he appears before the Nevada State Athletic Commission next month to try apply for a boxing license.
It’s questionable whether Peterson will be given a license. If not, he may have to wait between nine months to a year before he can reapply with the Nevada commission. That won’t stop him from applying with another commission in another state, but they may fall in lock step with the Nevada commission’s ruling.
That would leave Peterson with little choice but to wait it out unless he’s interested in going out of the country to try and get his license.
Peterson said to the BBC “Khan was looking forward to fighting. He had an opportunity to win his titles back, but that’s not going to happen now. So, I apologize to him, too, for not giving him the opportunity…I can honestly say I made a mistake. I can honestly say I think it’s wrong for anyone to call me a cheat.”
Peterson took the synthetic testosterone under a doctor’s supervision to treat his naturally low testosterone. Where Peterson made a huge is mistake is by not letting the testing agency, and his promoters know about it ahead of time. Had he done that then it likely would have been permitted as long as it could be proven that his testosterone was indeed low. But to get caught with two successive urine tests for the testosterone, it made Peterson look bad because he hadn’t said anything about his treatment.
Peterson had testosterone pellets inserted into his hip by his doctor to where only a small amount was released each time. It was reportedly just enough to raise his low levels to that of a normal person. He apparently wasn’t using it in high doses the way that some athletes use performance enhancing drugs to bulk up and add strength.
I would venture to guess that Peterson will be denied his license when he comes up before the commission next month. The fact that he didn’t inform anyone about it will no doubt hurt his case. It’s really disappointing because he could end up losing as much as a year of his career, and there’s no telling what will happen the next time he reapplies for his license.