ROBBIE Turley has admitted he thought his days in the boxing ring were over when a costly error involving his grandfather’s medication resulted in a 12-month suspension.

A drugs test taken after beating Bobby Jenkinson in April 2017 found the Cefn Fforest fighter had banned substance furosemide in his system.

It transpired that in the build-up to the contest the 31-year-old mistakenly took a tablet to treat high blood pressure while at his grandparents’ house.

Ironically, Turley’s first fight back following his enforced lay-off is for the Commonwealth super-bantamweight crown, the same belt he won when stopping Jenkinson 18 months ago.

If Tony Borg-trained Turley wants to regain the title at the Newport Centre on Saturday night then he will have to wrestle it from the clutches of Bristol’s Ashley Lane.

Lane, 28, picked up the vacant strap last September after outpointing Michael Ramabeletsa in Swindon.

A former Midlands Area bantamweight champion, Lane (12-8-2) goes into the encounter with Turley having won his last five fights, though it’s seven months since he threw a punch in anger.

And while Turley has been out for much longer, the Welshman boasts a better career record with 18 victories and six losses stretching back to 2007.

A gruelling training camp has seen Turley shed a considerable amount of weight, something he’s looking forward to not having to do when he hangs up his gloves.

“I’m sick of this game, I hate it, but I still want to win on Saturday, of course I do – I’ve got to do it because Christmas is coming soon,” he said.

“I don’t love this game anymore, it’s cruel and hard – I just love winning.

“Winning is great but the sport is horrible, and this camp has been very tough.

“But I’m not going to lie, I didn’t think I’d box again after what happened with the drugs test.

“My manager phoned me and asked if I wanted to fight and when I came into the gym I was 11-and-a-half stone.

“I’d been going out drinking and doing what normal people do, and it was nice for a little while, but I thought I’d get my life back in order, and that’s what I’ve done.

“I’ve dropped two-and-a-half stone in 12 weeks.”

Having had to relinquish his title last year, Turley insists that the 28-year-old Lane is merely “keeping it warm” for him.

If Turley does win on Saturday, whether he defends the belt or packs in boxing to focus on his fledgling singing career remains to be seen.

“It has been hard juggling the boxing with my singing,” he added.

“I hope I didn’t make the wrong decision in taking two major things on and only being able to give them both 50%, rather than giving one 100%.

“But the belt would be a nice early Christmas present and then I can go home and chill out with the family.

“It’s been a while since my last fight and I’ve forgotten what it’s like to win.

“Perhaps if I win this I’ll be buzzing and I’ll defend it.”