Muhammad Ali faces lengthy ban for positive steroid test

[Ruthless-RKO]

Team GB boxer Muhammad Ali is facing a long ban after testing positive for a steroid in April, the sport's international federation AIBA has confirmed.

The positive test came during a World Series of Boxing match in Casablanca and he has been provisionally suspended since May.

A silver medallist at the 2014 World Youth Championships and 2016 European Championships, Ali lost in the first round of the flyweight competition at the Rio Olympics last year.

The 21-year-old Yorkshireman is highly rated by GB Boxing and is currently the top-ranked fighter in his World Series of Boxing division.

In a statement on the AIBA website, the international federation announced his provisional suspension and said it would not make any further comment until an AIBA anti-doping panel has heard Ali's case. No date has been set for that yet.

It is understood that Ali asked for his B sample, which is used to confirm an initial finding, to be tested and that also came back positive for trace amounts of the steroid.

In a statement released to Press Association Sport, GB Boxing said it can confirm a member of its squad has tested positive for a banned substance and the boxer has been suspended from the programme and all competition pending the outcome of the process.

It added: "This is the first time that a member of the GB Boxing squad has tested positive for a banned substance.

"GB Boxing is committed to clean sport and we work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping and our international federation to provide extensive education and support to our boxers on anti-doping rules, the anti-doping obligations upon them as athletes and the importance of adhering to the principles of clean sport."

[Vincent stevenson]

Crikey. He will probably get a 2 year ban but hes already served 6 months. Expect him on a matchroom or FW pro card in 18 months time. Citing some bullshit excuse as to why he tested positive

[Syntax Error]

It will give him time to find a new profession!

The poor chap can't even search for himself on the internet as if he did, there'd be pages & pages about the most famous & iconic boxer in history before it gets to anything about him.

[Syntax Error]

Crikey. He will probably get a 2 year ban but hes already served 6 months. Expect him on a matchroom or FW pro card in 18 months time. Citing some bullshit excuse as to why he tested positive

Yes, someone would probably have spiked his drink!

That old Ben Johnson classic is still doing the rounds 3 decades later.

[Ruthless-RKO]

http://www.BS.com/muhammad-ali ... ds--125002

According to BBC Sport, Muhammad Ali has been banned for two years after testing positive for a banned steroid.

It is the first time since GB Boxing was established in 2008 that one of its fighters has tested positive.

A GB Boxing spokesperson told The Guardian: “This is the first time that a member of the GB Boxing squad has tested positive for a banned substance. GB Boxing is committed to clean sport and we work in partnership with UK Anti-Doping and our International Federation to provide extensive education and support to our boxers on anti-doping rules, the anti-doping obligations upon them as athletes and the importance of adhering to the principles of clean sport.”

[Syntax Error]

I'd forgotten all about young Mr Ali, and got a real fright today when the headlines flashed up on my phone.

I initially thought that the original Muhammad Ali had received a posthumous ban for steroid use.

I know it's his real name, but he really ought to think about boxing under another name.