Brit boxer Joshua reveals how dumping dope helped him win Olympic gold

London, Aug 14(ANI): British boxer Anthony Joshua, who won the gold medal at London Games on Sunday, has revealed how he axed his bad habits and a poor lifestyle to achieve Olympics' glory.

Joshua also revealed how borrowing 25 pounds from a cousin completely changed his life.

"My cousin, Benga Ilyemi, was training at the Finchley amateur club. I watched him for a couple of weeks or so, before I decided to give it a go," The Sun quoted Joshua, as saying.

"The only problem was I didn't have any gear. He lent me 25 pounds to buy a pair of Lonsdale boots. I didn't have any shorts, so he gave me some out of his bag, and my top came from the same bag too," he added.

"I got involved, but I found it just so hard at first. There was a time I stopped, and he told me to come back to the gym," he said.

Joshua listened to the advice and became a valued member of GB's elite boxing squad, proving an outstanding success in every competition he entered.

However, Joshua was forced to stop for a second time in March 2011 when he pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and was suspended from the boxing squad.

"When I was arrested last year, I didn't think I'd be here at the Olympic Games. I'd like to think I've shown miracles can happen. Now, I live a quiet life. No one gets in contact with me. All I want to do is get better as a fighter," Joshua said.

"I'll still stay grounded and I'll do it the same way as before I won the medal. I don't think a gold should make a man," he added. (ANI)