AMIR KHAN will have to channel every bit of his fighting spirit to return from his latest scandal.
The Bolton boxer, 36, has been BANNED from the sport for two years after testing positive for an illegal substance following his bout with Kell Brook last year.
Amir Khan, pictured with wife Faryal, has been banned from boxing for two years
Khan failed a drug test following his bout with Kel Brook
The epic rise of Amir Khan began at the 2004 Olympics
Khan retired following the defeat to his Brit rival – for which he pocketed a staggering £5MILLION.
However, it has since emerged he tested positive for ostarine, in the aftermath of that loss.
Khan has claimed ingestion of the banned substance was NOT intentional.
Ostarine is a drug designed to have similar effects to testosterone, used by athletes and bodybuilders to boost muscle mass and performance.
However, it has also been used to treat muscle-wasting diseases and osteoporsis.
Khan has enjoyed plenty of highs and endured lows in his career before in and out of the ring.
And it began so promisingly…
Olympic hero
Khan rose to prominence in extraordinary fashion at the 2004 Olympics.
He was Great Britain’s only representative in boxing in Athens – but that didn’t faze him.
At just 17, he on a silver medal in the lightweight category – becoming Britain’s youngest medallist since Carl Jones in 1976.
He lost in the final to Cuban Mario Kindelan, who had also beaten him in the pre-Olympic warm-up bouts.
A staggering eight million viewers tuned in to watch Khan fight on the BBC.
It was clear from then a star was born.
Champion
Khan’s rise escalated quickly when he turned pro.
In his 13th fight he defeated Willie Limond to become the Commonwealth lightweight champion.
Then in 2008, he knocked out Martin Kristjansen – landing the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.
Surprisingly knocked out in just 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott in his 19th fight, meant Khan lost his invincibility.
But like any true warrior, he would win back his belt with victory over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera.
After defeating Marco Antonio Barrera – Khan landed the WBO title again
Canelo Alvarez knocks out Khan in 2016
Khan went unbeaten for two years until a loss to Lamont Petersen, who was later stripped off Khan’s WBA belt for failing a drugs test. Another defeat in his comeback fight against Danny Garcia in 2012 saw Khan finally lose that WBA belt.
On a world scale, losses to Canelo Alvarez in 2016 and Terence Crawford in 2019 would show Khan was left wanting at this stage of this life.
But there were other things going on in his life.
Finding love
In 2012, Khan was introduced to the beautiful Faryal Makhdoom at a party in New York.
They immediately hit it off – with their relationship beginning to flourish.
Faryal was just 19-years-old when the pair started dating and she wed Amir just a year later.
The 2013 New York ceremony was a lavish affair and was followed by a second celebration in the UK with 4,000 guests.
A year later, they welcomed their first child together – daughter Lamaisah born in 2014.
A second daughter, Alayna would follow in 2018, and then Muhammad in 2020.
But, their romance was far from perfect.
Khan and Faryal Makhdoom’s romance has had its ups-and-downs
The Khans have three children together
Glam Faryal met Khan when she was just 19 in New York
Cheating allegations
Khan allegedly slept with beautician Sophia Hammani, 22, on May 10, 2018 – just 17 days after his wife gave birth to their daughter Alayna.
Sophia exclusively told Seconds Away that she spent the night with the boxer in his hotel room after meeting him in a London club.
The boxer slammed the claims on Twitter saying, “What total nonsense!
“She was wanting a pic but was told to leave by security due to her being too drunk. IMO that’s the reason she sold a story.
“Quite strange at the fact that there is no photos of us together.
Those cheating allegations rocked wife Faryal who unfollowed him on Instagram.
But it wasn’t the first time that he was accused of playing away.
In January 2018, Sandy Hunter claimed they had a passionate affair and he has also been accused of sharing sex cam chats.
The couple briefly split in August 2017, when explosive tweets from Amir Khan’s Twitter account claimed he has split from wife.
The sportsman even accused her of cheating on him with fellow boxer Anthony Joshua.
Sophia Hammani was alleged to have had an affair with Khan
Khan and Faryal reconciled and are still married despite the alleged infidelities
The initial tweet on the boxer’s account read: “So me and the wife Faryal have agreed to split. I’m currently in Dubai. Wish her all the best.”
After a brief meeting at the couple’s marital home in Bolton, model Faryal hit back, accusing him of being the unfaithful party as the pair’s relationship breakdown played out on social media.
However they reconciled and posted a loved-up Instagram pic.
I’m a Celeb…
Khan’s sports star status has already seen him crossover to celebrity – appearing on TV shows, including Countdown, Beat the Star, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Celebrity Juice.
But it was I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! where he would find new fans and get his first taste of reality TV.
He arrived in Brisbane as the highest-paid contestant – beating Katie Price’s previous record – earning a reported £400,000. Although it was reported he donated part of his fee to Barnado’s, for whom he is an ambassador.
Khan would provide good value for money – finishing fifth overall in the jungle.
He caused much hilarity in the Bushtucker Trial ‘Critter-cal Rescue’, where he had collect tokens from boxes containing snakes and giant beetles.
This year, he has been confirmed to appear on the spin-off I’m a Celebrity… South Africa.
That comes after Amir and Faryal have become reality TV stars in their own right.
Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton is already in its third season.
Khan appeared on I’m a Celeb in 2017
Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton is in its third season
Call it Kardashian-light, gave us a glimpse into his world with his pretty American influencer wife and their family.
It has proven to be popular – drawing six million requests on iPlayer.
Riches
In recent years, Khan, who is believed to be worth £32million, has showcased his wealth – whether that’s on the TV or through social media.
Fast cars, including a £160,000 Porsche 911 Turbo, a £271,000 Lamborghini Aventador, £233,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom and a £65,000 Range Rover beef up his ever-increasing car collection.
While Khan and Faryal enjoy the high-life with a plush holiday home in Dubai.
In 2020, Khan was also happy to share an extravagant purchase on social media of amazing watch.
And no doubt he would’ve wowed his 1.4 million followers on Instagram with an astonishing timepiece.
He revealed a snap of his wrist modelling a Richard Mille RM 032 dive watch that can cost anywhere from £95,000 to £111,000.
The Khans boast a stunning holiday home in Dubai
Khan once revealed he bought his son a £30,000 Rolex watch
Khan boasts an impressive car collection
A £160,000 Porsche is part of Khan’s amazing fleet of cars
A year later, Khan’s kindness extended to his son, Muhammad when he bought him his first watch.
He was handed a £30,000 Rolex, and on an Instagram stories clip he shared a photo of the pricey gift.
Last month, two men were convicted of robbing Khan for his bespoke rose gold diamond-encrusted Franck Muller watch, worth between £60,000 and £70,000 at gun point.
Khan recently revealed: “I feared my kids would grow up without their dad.”
While Faryal added: “I thought we were both going to die.”
These are tough times for Khan but he has bounced back in the past.
Expect him to make compelling viewing when he appears in the next instalment of I’m a Celeb.
