Amir Khan calls for life ban for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez: 'Once a drugs cheat, always a drugs cheat'

The Mexican was handed a six month suspension earlier this week after twice testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol

Khan believes Alvarez should be banned from boxing for life (AFP)

Amir Khan has called on Canelo Alvarez to be banned from boxing for life.

The Mexican middleweight was handed a six month suspension earlier this week after twice testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.

That cost him his scheduled rematch with Gennady Golovkin and Khan believes that he shouldn't be allowed back in the ring again.

"Once a drugs cheat, always a drugs cheat," he said at the final press conference ahead of his comeback fight against Phil Lo Greco on Saturday. "Canelo will be remembered forever as a drugs cheat. Not for his boxing."

"This six months ban is nothing.It will send a message to up-and-coming young fighters that you can do drugs and so what? That if Canelo do it then everyone can. It sets the wrong example. It amounts to -one-fight ban and while he's taking a break he's had a little operation on is knee which will help him come back stronger.

"I've been in this for more than ten years and never even thought about taking anything. Drugs cheats in boxing should be banned for life. There is no respect for the sport."

Khan hasn't fought since being brutally knocked out by Alvarez in Las Vegas 23 months ago and admits the emergence of homegrown boxers like Anthony Joshua has fuelled his comeback.

"You look at these great fighters like Joshua cleaning up, doing really well, knocking guys out, selling out stadiums and I'm like, 'Wow, this is where I want to be again'," the 31-year-old added. "I've done it in the past and I want to do it again. I know I've got a style where the crowd will come and watch me and want to see me.

"Fighters like Joshua out there give you that inspiration to come out and do well and sell out stadiums again. Boxing's on a high. What Eddie's doing, this is what we needed.

Khan returns to the ring in Liverpool this weekend (AFP)

"British boxing was really dying and Eddie's brought it back alive again. I remember the days when I used to fight in America all the time because in Britain, boxing wasn't as big as what we wanted it to be.

"In America, I was fighting there because I wanted to make a big name for myself and globally become a star. Now fighters are coming from America to England because of what Eddie's done. It's only making boxing a bigger, better sport.

"People respect it more. You walk down the streets and people are talking about boxing."