The 38-year-old, who was relieved of his WBA title with the defeat, is bemused by how the same drug found in a sample provided by 100m sprinter Asafa Powell recently ended up in his system to the UKAD handing down the suspension.
“I was in total shock when I was told I had tested positive. I honestly thought someone was playing a joke,” Magee told Press Association Sport.
“All I could think was I could get a lifetime ban or even a two-year ban. At my age, it would have meant my career was as good as over.
“I have had 30 or 40 tests in my career. I’ve never tested positive. I have always been cautious about everything I have taken. I didn’t do anything differently before the Kessler fight.”
Magee, who has fought some of the best super-middleweights during his ring career, is not letting the suspension get in his way and has decided to get knuckle down for his next fight after avoiding a lengthier ban due to the UKAD accepting his side of events.
“I’ve already got back in the gym, and I can’t wait to fight again. I haven’t had any bad beatings, and I think there are still several big fights out there for me,” said Magee.
