Reports: Peterson Tests Positive; Khan Rematch in Jeopardy

Looks like the Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan rematch is in trouble. Gabriel Montoya of Maxboxing.com Tweeted on Monday evening that Peterson, the DC boxer who upset Khan in their December 2011 scrap, and won Khan's WBA and IBF junior welterweight title, had tested positive for a banned substance in the pre-fight testing period. His colleague Steve Kim reached a Peterson spokesman, who said that they are trying to clear Peterson's name. Boxing Scene's David Greisman spoke to Andre Johnson, a Peterson spokesman, who would not say what the substance was, or confirm that the May 19 match in Las Vegas is in trouble. Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review Journal named the offending substance as synthetic testosterone.

Could the fight go on? Was the positive a false positive? Or will Peterson cry foul, or false positive? Would Khan fight Peterson anyway, if, we can presume, he was substance-free from now until fight night? Is there wording in their contracts which specify the protocol if a fighter tests positive pre-fight? Or is the bout automatically cancelled? We await word from Team Khan and promoter Golden Boy. Stay tuned for a developing story…

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