Lamont Peterson will keep IBF belt won against Amir Khan

The International Boxing Federation has ruled that Lamont Peterson will keep the organisation’s junior welterweight title, which he won from Amir Khan last December.

The organisation’s decision was based "on the findings reported by an independent physician, certified in internal medicine and endocrinology," which they claim was retained by the IBF to review Peterson’s medical records in relation to the information disclosed in the VADA report released this past May.

The IBF reported that the physician was asked "to provide an opinion as to whether the levels of testosterone noted in the VADA report appeared to be consistent with the therapeutic use of the hormone, or for performance enhancing purposes."

Additionally, the physician was asked to judge whether levels of testosterone would have enhanced Lamont Peterson’s training for and performance during the bout on December 10, 2011, and for his training for the bout scheduled for May 19, 2012.

After concluding the review of all the documentation provided by Peterson’s camp and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the physician determined that the testosterone levels noted in the VADA report are consistent with the therapeutic use of the hormone and not for the purpose of performance enhancement.

The IBF statement yesterday explained: "Therefore, these levels would not have enhanced Lamont Peterson’s training for or performance during the bout on December 10, 2011. Nor for his training for the bout that was schedule for May 19, 2012, as a specimen collected by VADA on April 13, 2012 tested negative on May 2, 2012.

The IBF has advised Peterson’s camp of the findings established in this independent review and of his status as the organisation’s Junior Welterweight Champion.

Moreover, the camp was advised that Lamont Peterson must now make a mandatory defence of his title against Zab Judah, who won the elimination bout for the number one position in the IBF Junior Welterweight ratings on March 24, 2012.

Peterson’s mandatory defence should have taken place on or before September 10, 2012 but was delayed pending the receipt of the endocrinologist’s report.

The IBF has ordered the respective camps into negotiations for this bout, which is now expected to take place as soon as possible on a date that all parties involved agree upon.