Amir Khan is facing questions about how he managed to jump the queue to get his coronavirus vaccination.
The former world champion boxer, 34, revealed on Wednesday that he has received his Covid jab by posting a picture on social media.
‘Finally got my Covid vaccine. Feel fantastic #Staysafe #nhs #nhsstaff #thankyou,’ he wrote alongside a photo of him about to get his jab from a nurse.
Khan’s post led to immediate questions from fans about how he got his coronavirus vaccination early when the UK’s rollout only expanded to the over 60s at the end of February and he is a professional athlete.
MailOnline was told by Khan’s father Shah, that he was able to get the vaccine after approaching his doctor and explaining that he is visiting his mother, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Amir Khan, 34, has been questioned after receiving his coronavirus vaccination early
MailOnline was told by Khan’s father that the ex-boxing champion got his vaccine after explaining to his doctor he was visiting his mother, Falak, (right) 54, who has pancreatic cancer
Speaking to MailOnline, Shah said: ‘Obviously Amir’s mother is very sick and he spends time around her so he, and even I and the rest of the family have had our shots.
‘He’s not a carer for her but he spends time with her. I don’t know the ins and outs but I know he approached his doctor and explained the situation.’
According to the latest guidance, carers will be offered the vaccine if they get carers allowance or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person ‘whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill’.
Hundreds of people on social media replied to Khan’s post, asking how a 34-year-old professional athlete was able to jump the queue.
‘How did you get it so soon at your age?’ one person wrote.
‘What? A healthy young man before 55 year olds? Nice one,’ another added.
Another user wrote: ‘How come you jumped the queue?’
Khan, who has been out of the ring since the summer of 2019, revealed to his 1.3 million Instagram followers back in January that his mother, Falak, 54, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The Bolton fighter wrote: ‘My dear mum has been diagnosed with pancreas cancer, stage 4. Today she’s feeling a lot better and stronger. Please keep her in your prayers.’
Hundreds of people were quick to ask on social media how Khan managed to get the vaccination early when he is a professional athlete
After Khan shared the devastating news about his mother, his father Shah told MailOnline in January: ‘We only found out last Thursday and we just want everybody to pray for Falak.
‘She is a strong woman, a fighter and with Allah’s guidance she will pull through this.
‘The family have been very supportive, and the NHS have been amazing in these very difficult times. Amir is currently isolating as he’s just returned from Dubai, but he has been Facetiming his mother every day and giving her all the support, she needs.’
Shah added: ‘God willing, she will recover. Falak has got all the family around her, they are constantly on the phone to her and we are giving her all the support she needs. We are with her all the way.
‘The world is in a very difficult situation with Covid but we are fortunate that we have so much love and support around us. We will do our best for Falak but at the end of the day, everything is in Allah’s hands.’
Khan revealed his mother’s diagnosis to his 1.3million Instagram followers back in January alongside this picture of them together
Amir’s father Shah Khan (pictured with wife Falak), told MailOnline his former world champion boxing son was able to get his shot after telling his doctor about his mother’s condition
Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom Khan were embroiled in a bitter family dispute which came to an end last year after they reunited with his parents and his siblings. This reunion was made even more poignant because it was the first time Shah and Falak, met their grandson Muhammad Zaviyar (pictured with Amir and Faryal), who was born last February
Khan was criticised for breaking Covid laws again last month after making a 230-mile round trip from his Bolton home to visit an upmarket restaurant in Coventry, before posing for a selfie with fans (pictured)
In January it was revealed Khan breached Covid-19 regulations after meeting a senior Pakistani politician who tested positive for the virus just 48 hours later
Amir’s parents live close to his £1.2million mansion in Bolton, Greater Manchester, with their three other children.
Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom Khan were embroiled in a bitter family dispute which came to an end last year after they reunited with his parents and his siblings.
After not speaking for almost 18 months, they enjoyed a moving reunion last May.
The former super lightweight unified champion has received a lot of backlash since the pandemic began for his failure to abide by lockdown rules.
Last month, Khan flouted Covid laws after making a 230-mile round trip from his Bolton home to visit an upmarket restaurant in Coventry.
It marked just the latest in a series of lockdown breaches by Khan, who has an estimated worth of £25m and lives with his wife Faryal, 29 and their three children.
Instead of adhering to rules for those who come in contact with anyone testing positive, Khan jetted to Dubai where he embraced Cristiano Ronaldo at an awards ceremony in December
Flouting rules: Khan and wife Faryal Makhdoom flew to Dubai in December despite Faryal suffering from Covid-19 symptoms
Cheers! Khan was also recently accused of blatantly breaching coronavirus rules after a birthday party was held with at least 18 people in a luxurious mansion
Celebrating: In a video posted online from his birthday bash, Khan told the camera, ‘All the boys are here… So, basically it was a surprise for me – and they did this for me as well, King’
In December, he was photographed embracing Cristiano Ronaldo at a football awards ceremony in Dubai days after meeting a senior politician in Pakistan who had tested positive for coronavirus.
Under the rules, Khan should have been maintaining a two-metre distance and wearing a face mask wherever possible while those exhibiting symptoms are required to get a test.
Khan and Faryal’s trip to Pakistan and Dubai over the Christmas and New Year period was already controversial after she was criticised for travelling abroad despite experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.
Prior to leaving the UK, a surprise birthday party was also held for Khan with at least 18 people in a luxurious mansion while last May – at the height of the pandemic – he also hosted a family birthday party for his six-year-old daughter with at least nine relatives in attendance.
A month before in April, Khan ignored social distancing rules after an emotional reunion with his parents, siblings and other relatives for Eid.
That same month, he was criticised for hosting a takeaway dinner for five friends at his home while the country was in lockdown.
Ironically, the boxer had earlier posted a video urging people to remain in their homes and follow the government’s coronavirus advice on social distancing.