Carl Frampton on The Growing Trend of Illegal Drug Use in Boxing

By Edward Chaykovsky

In his recent Sunday Life column, WBA featherweight world champion Carl Frampton discussed the growing trend of illegal drug use in boxing. More and more fighters are testing positive for performance enhancing drugs or illegal recreational drugs.

The issue of drug use in boxing has forced one sanctioning body, the World Boxing Council, to create a program where it's mandatory for every WBC world champion, and every fighter ranked in the top 15, to get tested for any and all illegal drugs.

"Drugs are a curse and although I don't think boxing has a massive problem with it, this move by the WBC is what we need to take the fight to anyone who would think about cheating," Frampton said.

"Now the WBC have taken this step I would like to see the other governing bodies falling in behind them and bringing in the same rule. Not only that, I believe the British Boxing Board of Control need to do the same.

"They may not be able to do it with every fighter but I think anyone from British titles level upwards should have to sign up to the UK Anti-Doping programme which I voluntarily signed up to before my fight with Scott Quigg."

Frampton admits that it's tough to stay in shape all year and there will be fighters who are always going to be tempted to get that extra edge. He also shook his head at recreational drug use as well, because fighters - and especially world champions - are role models for others,

"People will always be tempted to get an edge in sport if they feel they can get away with it do the tougher the rules in Britain, the better and anyone caught taking a performance enhancing drug should be banned," Frampton said.

"Boxers are role models and that should be taken very seriously. Using recreational drugs in my opinion is clearly bringing the sport into disrepute and some fighters have used it even leading up to world title fights - like Johnny Tapia who in his autobiography writes about taking a line of coke before heading to the arena for his fight.

"It's very easy for guys from hard backgrounds to be drawn into taking a few too many drinks or a smoke of funny cigarettes so champions need to show them there's a better way."