The International Testing Agency (ITA) likely thought they were doing something substantial by deciding to ban Imam Khataev following a drug test that was administered in April of 2024. Despite more than a year having passed, the ITA decided to slam Khataev with a two-year ban just this week; days before Khataev’s July 12th fight against David Morrell.
There are multiple disturbing facts regarding the International Testing Agency’s (ITA) so-called ban.
Pertaining Australian light-heavyweight (175 lbs) contender Imam Khataev (10-0, 9 KO’s), the ITA conducted an out-of-competition test for the International Boxing Association (IBA), one of the main two international amateur organizations almost a year after Imam Khataev last competed in a IBA Pro competition in July of 2023.
Conducting the test on April 9th in 2024 as the ITA would reveal, the exact date of when the tests denoted the presence of the banned substances of Clomifene was not divulged but presumably the anti-doping violation was discovered last year.
Instead of charging him beforehand, the ITA decided to slam Imam Khataev with a two-year ban roughly two weeks before his upcoming July 12th fight against David Morrell (11-1, 9 KO’s) on June 26th this year ― with the ban set to expire on June 25 in 2027.
The circumstances of the test are mired with confusion. The test was administered out-of-competition and with Khataev being a professional at the time, while also having competed as an amateur after making his debut in 2021, it is currently unclear whether this ban applies to the professional ranks.
To make matters even more unclear, the ITA stated any results from Imam Khataev starting from April 9th and onward would be disqualified ― which virtually means nothing as Khataev has not competed in the amateurs since his July 15th contest with the IBA in 2023. Consequently, it appears none of Khataev’s professional results are overturned.
Coupled with the fact the ITA took well over a year to reveal the drug test results, the organization’s decision is fairly pointless one given Khataev is still scheduled for his July 12th fight.
It is the embodiment of incompetence, banning a fighter that failed a drug test 17 months ago from amateur competition when the same fighter has been a professional boxer since 2021.
In fact, the most alarming news is not the fact Khataev even failed a drug test in 2024, but that he somehow managed to compete in the amateurs during his professional career ― an instance that requires clarification and brings up its own set of concerns regarding the eligibility of professionals competing in amateur competitions.
The Eye of the Tiger Promotions, Khataev’s promotion, came out in defense of Khataev who they framed as a clean athlete:
“Imam Khataev was deeply surprised and shocked to learn of the result from the out-of-competition doping test conducted by the ITA in 2024,” The promotion’s official statement reads.
“He denies categorically ever knowingly or voluntarily ingesting any prohibited substance. Imam remains fully committed to prove he is a clean athlete, as he has consistently demonstrated throughout his career.
“Since April 2024 alone, he has submitted four negative test results from VADA, the RACJ, and RUSADA. He is also a voluntary participant in the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program, reflecting his firm committment to [a] clean and fair sport.
“No further comments will be made on this matter.”
While the Eye of the Tiger Promotions’ response is typical, asserting Khataev is a clean athlete when his failed test clearly denotes this is not the case, the ITA’s ban comes across as frivolous posturing given Khataev is not actually barred from competing as a professional and is unlikely to compete as an amateur.
Since the apparently failed test in April of 2024, Imam Khataev has competed four times as a pro and is set to compete in his fifth fight on Saturday, July 12th.
There are concerns regarding his failed test from 2024 but given his promotion’s claims of Khataev having been tested regularly since then whilst producing negative results throughout, there is no real cause for concern given every fighter set to compete on the upcoming The Ring card will presumably be drug-tested; though this matter is very much a case of contractual obligations and the most prominent anti-doping testing organization, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), only conduct tests for fighters that voluntarily sign up to its program.
With The Ring unlikely to step in given Khataev’s ban appears to only translate to the amateur ranks, the ITA has highlighted how boxing lacks a proper system that ensures bans from amateur competitions can be enforced in the pros. The ITA itself warrants scrutiny, their timing of the test results being egregiously late and insignificant.
With the IBA itself seen as a corrupt organization ― as the ITA admitted to the test having been conducted on their behalf, the case seems a lot more convoluted than it appears and could be seen as a vendetta against Khataev; drawing comparisons to the recent ban of Russian retired heavyweight Alexander Povetkin.
