IBF: Peterson is still champ pending review of medical records

Lamont Peterson will retain his status as IBF junior welterweight titleholder until or unless he is stripped of the belt he won from Amir Khan in December pending the review of his medical records by organization-appointed doctors in the wake of Peterson's failed drug test in March.

IBF President Daryl Peoples said last week that Peterson-Khan still is to be examined, having informed RingTV.com that the organiztion received Peterson's medical records for review and will determine whether the fighter should retain the belt or be stripped.

"Lamont Peterson is still the champion, and he may remain the champion. But we can't take a position until we review all of the records and after we receive a decision from our doctors. These are doctors that we have selected to review the information," said Peoples in an interview on Wednesday.

"I was hoping to hear from the people earlier in the week, and being that it's the middle of the week, I was hoping to receive something today or tomorrow. We hope that they can give us something by the end of the week. It has to be soon."

Conversely, Peterson has been all-but stripped of the WBA's belt, which was also worn by Khan entering their bout, and declared that organization's "champion in recess," a move that appears to allow room for him to contend for that title. 

Khan (26-3, 18 knockouts), who lost a split decision and his WBA and IBF titles to Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KOs), had a scheduled May 19 rematch with Peterson, of Washington, D.C., cancelled after Peterson tested positive for the banned substance testosterone.

On July 12, four days prior to Khan's HBO-televised fourth-round knockout loss to WBC titleholder Danny Garcia (24-0, 15 KOs) on Saturday night, the WBA declared that it was re-instating Khan as its beltholder and named Peterson its "champion in recess."

Garcia also won THE RING belt against Khan, in accordance with a recent move made by the magazine's Editorial Board.

Peterson's legal counsel has also asked for a postponement to August of its originally scheduled July 9 meeting with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, whose executive director, Keith Kizer, received the request from one of Peterson's lawyers, Peter Bernard, on June 27.

Peterson admitted to using testosterone in November prior to facing Khan, claiming it was for medical reasons. Peterson had a "testosterone pellet" surgically implanted into his hip by Las Vegas-based Dr. John Thompson on Nov. 12 of last year after he was diagnosed with an abnormally testosterone level.

Peterson and Khan contractually agreed to have their blood and urine randomly tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), whose president and founder is Margaret Goodman.

Goodman informed Kizer that Peterson's "urine specimen ... was collected on March 19" and that its test results were "consistent with the administration of an anabolic steroid such as testosterone."

In an interview with RingTV.com, Peterson said that he passed the pre-fight urine test conducted by the Washington D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Athletic Commission before facing Khan. D.C. commission director, Scottie Irving, has maintained that he has no official comment.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com