Lamont Peterson, the defending light welterweight champion boxer, used synthetic testosterone pellets before his Dec. 10 fight against Amir Khan, a bout Khan lost by split decision, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer.



The explosive revelation was made by Peterson's attorney, Jeff Fried, to Kizer during a phone call Monday. News of Peterson's positive drug test was already swirling on the Internet by then. Kizer confirmed to the Daily News Tuesday that Peterson had two drug samples from the same collection which came back positive for synthetic testosterone - one result in mid-April from the "A" sample taken after a press conference touting drug testing on March 19 in Los Angeles and the testing of the "B" sample again on May 3. Kizer said the testosterone pellets are placed under the armpit and then secreted into the body.



The Peterson/Khan rematch is scheduled for May 19 at the Mandalay in Las Vegas, but that bout is now in jeopardy because of Peterson's failed test.



Peterson and Khan both elected to participate in the independent Voluntary Anti-Doping Association's testing program, one that VADA's board members have extolled as on par with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. But unlike USADA, a fighter tested under the VADA program is not punished by VADA if he fails a drug test - that is left up to the athletic commission in the state where the fighter is competing. Kizer received a long letter from Peterson's camp Tuesday night. In the letter, Fried details Peterson's medical history and says that Peterson's team has "worked expeditiously and tirelessly with a team of medical specialists to confirm the origin of the single test result and to ensure that all procedures are in full compliance with the FDA and the rules of the Nevada Athletic Commission." Fried referred to medical treatment Peterson received in November, 2011 for "an extraordinarily abnormal (low) testosterone level."



"Peterson does not have a license to fight in Nevada, and he won't get one until we're satisfied with his explanation," said Kizer. Kizer added that it is up to the two stationing bodies - IBF and WBA - to make a decision on whether they will strip Peterson of his two championship belts from the December bout. The athletic commission in Washington, where that fight was held, can decide whether to strip Peterson of the win.



The "A" and "B" samples from the first test both registered positive and were analyzed using the sophisticated carbon isotope ratio (CIR) testing method, according to Kizer. "From my understanding, it's not a matter of a threshold, it's that synthetic testosterone was detected in his system," said Kizer, who received a letter from VADA detailing the positives on Monday.



Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which is promoting the May 19 bout, told The News that he may be "forced to take down the show at substantial cost" if a replacement for Peterson is not found. Fried did not respond to several phone messages left by The News, but issued a statement Monday night confirming the positive test.



Fried said he and his client "have tremendous respect for VADA and its mission," and that Peterson would work in full "compliance with the rules of the Nevada Athletic Commission (NSAC)."



"Lamont has never had a positive test either before or after this isolated occurrence and we plan to submit the medical findings by close of business Tuesday reflecting the actual facts in support of Lamont's good faith intentions and the requirements of the commission," said Fried,, who later said that a doctor had prescribed a one-time treatment for Peterson for a medical condition.



The detection of synthetic testosterone apparently came as a result of VADA's use of the CIR test as a regular screening tool; USADA, in contrast, does use the CIR test, but not on every single sample it analyzes. Although it does not disclose to the athlete when a CIR test is being used, it more often uses the testosterone-to-epitestosterone test, which is known as a T/E ratio test. A USADA spokeswoman said, "CIR is a regular part of the USADA testing program for all athletes under USADA's jurisdiction, as well as a routine part of the anti-doping programs conducted by USADA in professional boxing." She added that CIR is used in "strategic and appropriate" circumstances.



If the T/E level breaches a 4-1 ratio, a CIR is then ordered. Under VADA's protocol, the CIR test is administered regardless of the T/E ratio. The CIR test measures natural testosterone, produced by cholesterol, against exogenous or synthetic testosterone, a plant substance.



Victor Conte, the founder of the now-defunct BALCO steroid lab who is now an anti-doping advocate, has said for some time that he believes athletes "are microdosing with fast-acting testosterone and staying under the 4-1 T/E ratio. They simply don't trigger the CIR test.



"Where you're going to next see this is in the Summer Games in London. The International Olympic Committee should use CIR as a target screen, or you're going to have a lot of athletes microdosing and getting away with it."



Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, told The News that athletes who are contracted to be tested by USADA agree to the WADA code. If a fighter tested positive before a bout, and had contracted with USADA for drug testing, the bout would be canceled and the fighter would be subject to a two-year ban.



"It's an important to have an effective program, one that has sanctions for athletes when they try to cheat," said Tygart. "I hope that (Peterson) doesn't just get denied a license and then is able to go fight in another state, if it's confirmed that he tested positive. That would be a sad outcome for those who believe in a clean sport."



Each athletic commission has a different set of laws and regulations when it comes to testing and punishments handed down when athletes test positive for performance-enhancing drugs.



"We could either not license them or we could suspend and fine them," said Kizer. "Failing the drug test is not the violation. The violation is using the drug. If a fighter fails a drug test, and it shows that he used a banned substance prior to the fight, then he's going to have a big problem with getting a license to fight in Nevada, unless there's some legitimate purpose that comes in.



"A fighter always has the right to due process. Usually for the first offense with anabolic agents, you have to wait nine months to come back to be considered."