Provodnikov's Manager: Testing Necessary For All Fights

By Yuri Tarantin

Vadim Kornilov, manager of former WBO junior welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov, says random drug testing is mandatory for his boxer's upcoming fights. Provodnikov is back on April 18th, when he faces Lucas Matthysse in Verona, New York. Both boxers are being randomly tested by anti-doping organization VADA [Voluntary Anti-Doping Association].

"We did just start talking about mandatory drug testing with VADA prior to this fight. This has been the condition for all of our fights. We've done this in all of our recent matches. Before the fight with Alvarado we were tested [for performance enhancing drugs], and Alvarado flatly refused to do so," Kornilov said. 

"In the case of Algieri, doping tests were done for both fighters, and we paid the VADA bills for both sides. And now once again both fighters are being tested, and we are paying for ourselves and for Matthysse. For us, it's the principle. Safety and health are very important for Ruslan and his team. We do not want to compete against someone  who [might be doping]. Win or lose, we want it to be fair and square. Many boxers are willing to win by any means necessary, but Ruslan is set very firmly in his ways and wants everything to be hones."

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru