Amir Khan says Canelo must be banned for life over drugs or all fighters will dope for success

AMIR KHAN says letting drug cheat Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez off of a lifetime ban will give fighters a green light to dope their way to glory.

The 31-year-old Bolton star makes his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday in a tune-up with Phil Lo Greco, two years since the flame-haired Mexican knocked him out cold.

Canelo – infamous for ballooning up in size during the hours between the final weigh-in and first bell – failed two tests for fat-stripping muscle builder clenbuterol ahead of his Gennady Golovkin rematch on May 5.

The 27-year-old blamed the red flags on contaminated meat but he withdrew from the fight, which could curry favour when his punishment is handed down.

But Khan – who was urged to quit due to the severity of that 2016 Las Vegas defeat – says a soft stance will signal open season for cheats to take steroids with impunity.

Khan said: “If anyone is taking any enhancing drugs then they should be banned 100 per cent, it should not be allowed.

“Otherwise we could all think ‘why don’t we all take it and have that extra edge?’

“Canelo has now failed two drugs test and apparently passed a third, maybe because he got off it. But I do not think it means that he should still be able to fight again.“It will all come down to what the boxing boards and governing bodies say but, in my opinion, if Canelo fights again then it is a sign to other fighters out there that they will only get a slap on the wrist and it’s OK to do it.”

Khan has thrilled fans with his heavy hands and supposedly suspect chin ever since he clinched silver at the 2004 Olympics for Team GB.

And he found a new fan base when he starred in the 2017 series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

A lengthy lay-off due to an injured hand has let him take stock of his career and he wants to emulate two of his legendary rivals by fighting into middle-age as he targets a third world title.

He said: “I’ve had the WBA and the IBF. Now I want to add another to my collection. A world title for me will mean something.

“If I win another world title I can say, ‘thank you very much, I’ve had a great time, a great career’. I’m 31, look at Manny Pacquiao who is 38 and started having his big fights at 31.

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“Look at Floyd Mayweather, he is 40 years old and still winning titles, I’m still a baby.

“I’m still young compared to those guys and what they’ve achieved and the same weight as me.