Brian Magee Says Failed Drug Test Led to Six Months of Hell

Brian Magee has spoken for the first time about testing positive for a banned substance which led to the former super-middleweight champion enduring "six months of hell".

It was revealed on Monday that the Belfast fighter had been serving a six month ban for testing positive for the prohibited stimulant oxilofrine - the same drug that was found in samples from 100m sprinters Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell.

The 88 year old was able to avoid a two year ban from the British Boxing Board of Control after proving to the UK Anti-Doping Agency that he had not deliberately attempted to enhance his performance.

Magee proved that the banned substance had come from an over the counter sports drink which he had tested in order to prove his innocence.

The former WBA champion spoke to BBC Northern Ireland about the ban and revealed that the news had come as a complete and utter shock.

"I got the news about three weeks after the Kessler fight," said Magee. "It was a total shock. After the disappointment of getting beaten in the fight, for this to come out after my 25 years in boxing was terrible. I was just devastated.

"But my manager Pat Magee and the team around got working straight away to try to work out what had happened because I knew that I hadn't intentionally taken any banned substance.

"I gave the UK Anti-Doping Agency everything I had ever taken and everything was fine in terms of those ingredients. Pat then decided to get everything independently tested.

"It worked out that the product had been contaminated in the factory where it was made. We went to the shop where I got it and bought more and, after testing the second batch, found that it was also contaminated."

Other boxers have received stiffer sentences in recent times and Magee is aware that some people will be sceptical. However, he is quick to point out how often he has passed checks and made it clear that he wants to see the sport completely clean.

"I would be a total advocate of a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs in sport," added Magee. "I've been tested 40 times throughout my career and maybe 20 times in the UK.

"I've always applied all the correct protocols because I knew there was nothing out of the ordinary that I've ever done."

The former Olympian will now hope that he can get his career back on track, despite suffering a brutal loss at the hands of Kessler ion December 2012.

Magee revealed: "I'm back training over the last two weeks and with the ban elapsing later this month, fingers crossed I'll be back in the ring before the end of this year.

"I owe everyone who has supported me to have one (bout) for the road."