At a time when medical testing is more important than ever, drug testing in sports has been forced to take a different approach.
There remain a number of bouts still technically scheduled which remain contractually bound to random drug testing through Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. However, the manner in which citizens are even permitted to move around in everyday life continues to change with every news cycle in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“VADA’s mission has always been to protect fighter safety while promoting fair, clean sport free of illegal performance enhancing drugs and methods,” Dr. Margaret Goodman, founder and head of VADA told BoxingScene.com in a statement. “We are keenly aware of the worldwide situation surrounding Covid-19 (coronavirus) and how it may affect testing for PEDs.
“This situation has been changing on a daily and almost hourly basis. It is impossible to know what conditions will be like as circumstances evolve.”
Other testing agencies—such as United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD)—have publicly revealed their being forced to reduce the amount of testing conducted in the current global climate. USADA’s main priority is on those who still plan to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the one major competition it seems which hasn’t yet been postponed as the summer games tentatively still plan to proceed as scheduled in late July.
VADA testing was in place for several events both in the U.S. and U.K., including at least two Matchroom Boxing shows which—for now—remain on the schedule.
The May 2 heavyweight clash between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin is subject to testing. So, too, is the evening’s chief support—a World lightweight championship between unbeaten defending champ Katie Taylor and record-setting seven-division titlist Amanda Serrano, the latter who recently confirmed through social media of having already submitted a testing sample.
Beginning with her 140-pound title win over Christina Linardatou last November, any bout involving Ireland’s Taylor (15-0, 6KOs) will require VADA testing. It was an easy enough sell for Serrano (38-1-1, 28KOs), a Brooklyn-based Boricua southpaw who vowed both before and after featherweight title win over Heather Hardy last September to welcome such standards for all future bouts.
Taylor and Serrano were officially welcomed into the program on March 10, as were England’s Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21KOs) and Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14KOs) ahead of their June 20 heavyweight title fight at Tottenham Spurs Stadium in North London.
Other bouts which have since been postponed remain murky as to whether testing is ongoing or if such services have been suspended. Of course, could all become a moot point with the next update from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.
“VADA is following, and will continue to follow, the advice of local and international healthcare professionals to ensure that any testing we might conduct is consistent with the need to protect our athletes and doping control officers during these uncertain times,” vows Goodman. “As a Las Vegas physicians, Dr. Flip Homansky and I are directly following the evolving CDC recommendations as they pertain to Covid-19.
“However, we can’t ignore the inherent risks fighters face in training and in competition that is increased with PED use.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox