In a significant development for the light-heavyweight division, contender Imam Khataev has received a two-year period of ineligibility after testing positive for a prohibited substance. The sanction, imposed by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of the International Boxing Association (IBA), stems from an out-of-competition doping control conducted earlier this year.
The substance in question is Clomifene, a compound classified under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List as an S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulator. Clomifene is prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition, due to its potential to influence hormonal systems, notably by increasing testosterone levels. It is categorized as a specified substance, meaning its presence in a sample may result in a reduced sanction depending on the circumstances, though a two-year ban is standard for non-specified substances and can apply to specified substances too.
According to the ITA`s report, the positive sample was collected on April 9, 2024. The formal sanction imposes a period of ineligibility effective from June 26, 2025, through June 25, 2027. Furthermore, all competitive results achieved by Khataev from the date of the positive test onwards (April 9, 2024) have been disqualified. This detail is particularly noteworthy, as Khataev, who held a professional record of 10-0 with 9 knockouts prior to this announcement, is reported to have competed four times since the April testing date.
The most immediate and impactful consequence of this sanction is the cancellation of Khataev`s highly anticipated fight scheduled for this Saturday, July 13th. He was set to face fellow top contender David Morrell in New York on The Ring III event. The positive test and subsequent ban abruptly halt this progression opportunity and remove him from a prominent card.
The ITA has stated that parties with the right to appeal may challenge the decision before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This avenue provides a formal process for the athlete to dispute the findings or the length of the sanction.
This instance of a Clomifene violation in boxing is not unprecedented. A high-profile case involving Conor Benn in 2022 also brought the substance into the spotlight within the sport, highlighting the vigilance of anti-doping authorities regarding such compounds.
For Khataev, the two-year ban represents a significant pause in his career trajectory. Disqualification of potentially four wins also alters his official record history. The situation underscores the strict liability principle in anti-doping rules, where athletes are ultimately responsible for substances found in their bodies, regardless of how they entered or whether there was intent to cheat.
