Khan will meet unbeaten American Danny Garcia, the reigning World Boxing Council champion, on Saturday to unify the crowns in a showdown that was booked after a planned Khan rematch against Lamont Peterson was called off.

This decision was taken after the positive doping result of the American Lamont Peterson was confirmed by the medical experts. The WBA rules state that no boxer who has tested positively for prohibited substances can be rated, retain a title, or be permitted to fight in a sanctioned bout for a period of no less than six (6) months from the date of the positive test has been enforced.

Khan, 25, lost his WBA and International Boxing Federation belts in a hotly disputed loss to Peterson in the Washington fighter’s hometown last December. Khan raised a number of grievances surrounding the result and was further vindicated when Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone before their scheduled May rematch.

Khan said, “I’m glad the WBA are reinstating me as champion, it means I walk into this fight as world champion." Khan also said, after the fight was confirmed as a unification affair. "I wanted to clean up this division before I left it and I think this is the best way to do it." “Justice has been done,”

Peterson admitted to using the testosterone – apparently for medical reasons – before their controversial encounter, calling into question the validity of his win.

While the result has not been overturned and seems unlikely to be in the future, the WBA’s decision adds weight to Khan’s belief that the loss should be regarded as null and void.