Estephan Not Pleased as Public Health Director Rejects Plan To Stage Event

According to The Montreal Journal, the National Director of Public Health, Horacio Arruda, continues to maintain the hard line with professional boxing.

At the end of the day Friday, he rejected a plan from Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) to present a closed doors boxing event in a region of Quebec.

In a letter to promoter Camille Estephan, Dr. Arruda provided an answer that the boxing man was not expecting.

"For the moment, in Quebec, no direct physical contact during a confrontation in a combat sport is authorized, as specified in decree number 689-2020 of June 25, 2020," it was written in the letter that reporter Mathieu Boulay obtained a copy of.

"This combat sports ban is in effect in the context where Quebec declared a state of health emergency on March 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

According to Dr Arruda, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in combat sports is high, in particular due to the non-compliance with the two-meter rule, the high and prolonged frequency of close contact, and the fact that the wearing of a mask or face cover is not recommended when practicing an activity of moderate or high intensity.

He also added that blows to the face favor the creation of droplets, which is the main vector of transmission. There are also interregional, interprovincial or international travel by participants which he says would not be a good thing in the context of a pandemic.

On the side of Camille Estephan, the promoter is in disbelief.

"Public health authorities in France believe that there is no more risk in combat sports, which includes boxing, than other sports," said the businessman. "The same thing on the side of Germany and England.

“In Japan, which is my benchmark, they have the same opinion. Is he [Dr. Arruda] going to make me believe that all these public health leaders from all over the world are wrong? We are really witnessing a situation of double standards, two measures."

In the same letter, Dr. Arruda raised an interesting point about the screening tests that would be used a few times before a possible boxing gala.

"[...] the use of PCR tests in asymptomatic people does not exclude that people are infected at the time of the fight," he said.

“The addition of this single measure would therefore not be enough to reduce the risks of transmission of COVID-19 during combat. "

This is another slap in the face of promoter Estephan. However, last Wednesday, optimism was at the rendezvous, while the dialogue was finally opened with the public health authorities.

"By saying such words, he is confirming that the tests that have been passed on to the public are not reliable," added Estephan. "We are especially aware that health decisions are taken with a cookie cutter.

“The worst thing for the economy and the population is instability. This is what we are currently seeing."

Seeing that he could not have public health approval, Estephan wanted the creation of a committee to review the case.

"We see that there is a lack of understanding of our sport and it must be remedied," concluded Estephan.