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By Elisa Harrison
On July 18, 2003 Bragging Rights Corner publishes an interview with Richard Hall days before his fight against Julian 'Mr. KO' Letterlough. In the interview conducted by Aladdin Freeman, "The Destroyer" Hall made some serious accusations regarding former adversary, Roy Jones, Jr. Hall told of steroids abuse by Jones when they met in May of 2001. Hall also told the interviewer how the sanctioning bodies who blessed the championship match knew about the positive test for anabolic steroids and did nothing about it.
Much happened after Hall dropped dime, including the startling revelation that not only had Jones tested positive for the use of a banned substance; the fact of the matter was that Richard Hall himself had been found guilty of the same infraction, a detail he conveniently left out during his interview with Freeman.
After numerous conversations with parties who were directly or indirectly related to the subject matter, and after having been accused of posting rumors, we thoroughly documented what many consider to be one of the most shocking boxing stories of the year.
Three months almost to the date, a huge scandal is reportedly about to explode regarding high profile athletes and abuse of tetrahydrogestrinone, a substance known as THG for short. Home run star Barry Bonds has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating BALCO Laboratories of Burlingame, California. Bonds is not alone, the list of those subpoenaed includes 5 Major League ball players, 7 NFL players, as well as track and field stars Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Kelli White. Forty top athletes have reportedly been served to date.
While the pressure applied by the development of this story might push law enforcement to make much needed moves, for those fans who paid to watch Roy Jones, Jr. vs Richard Hall, it is too late; they were defrauded by two doped up athletes who abused what at least one of the sanctioning bodies for which belt they were vying considers an illegal substance.
Please don't misunderstand, I am not singling out Hall and Jones, they are not the only ones abusing. Over the past 18 month period, high profile fighters Fernando Vargas, UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett and most recently UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia have tested positive for steroid use. However, the big difference here is that Vargas, Barnett and Sylvia have paid a heavy price for their violation(s), unlike Jones and Hall, and the many others who abuse and fight in states where drug testing is non existent.
The Association of Boxing Commissions continues to lack leadership on this matter, the sanctioning bodies and others who could make a difference opt to look away and hope the problem will go away, and overall, the lack of integrity in the sport is becoming its worst enemy.
The BALCO Labs investigation might turn out to be the much needed straw that could break the camel's back. Meanwhile, what will it take for mandatory and uniform drug testing in the sport of boxing? It is the right thing -the only thing- to do if we want to protect the athletes, the fans, and more importantly, the future of the sport.
On July 18, 2003 Bragging Rights Corner publishes an interview with Richard Hall days before his fight against Julian 'Mr. KO' Letterlough. In the interview conducted by Aladdin Freeman, "The Destroyer" Hall made some serious accusations regarding former adversary, Roy Jones, Jr. Hall told of steroids abuse by Jones when they met in May of 2001. Hall also told the interviewer how the sanctioning bodies who blessed the championship match knew about the positive test for anabolic steroids and did nothing about it.
Much happened after Hall dropped dime, including the startling revelation that not only had Jones tested positive for the use of a banned substance; the fact of the matter was that Richard Hall himself had been found guilty of the same infraction, a detail he conveniently left out during his interview with Freeman.
After numerous conversations with parties who were directly or indirectly related to the subject matter, and after having been accused of posting rumors, we thoroughly documented what many consider to be one of the most shocking boxing stories of the year.
Three months almost to the date, a huge scandal is reportedly about to explode regarding high profile athletes and abuse of tetrahydrogestrinone, a substance known as THG for short. Home run star Barry Bonds has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating BALCO Laboratories of Burlingame, California. Bonds is not alone, the list of those subpoenaed includes 5 Major League ball players, 7 NFL players, as well as track and field stars Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Kelli White. Forty top athletes have reportedly been served to date.
While the pressure applied by the development of this story might push law enforcement to make much needed moves, for those fans who paid to watch Roy Jones, Jr. vs Richard Hall, it is too late; they were defrauded by two doped up athletes who abused what at least one of the sanctioning bodies for which belt they were vying considers an illegal substance.
Please don't misunderstand, I am not singling out Hall and Jones, they are not the only ones abusing. Over the past 18 month period, high profile fighters Fernando Vargas, UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett and most recently UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia have tested positive for steroid use. However, the big difference here is that Vargas, Barnett and Sylvia have paid a heavy price for their violation(s), unlike Jones and Hall, and the many others who abuse and fight in states where drug testing is non existent.
The Association of Boxing Commissions continues to lack leadership on this matter, the sanctioning bodies and others who could make a difference opt to look away and hope the problem will go away, and overall, the lack of integrity in the sport is becoming its worst enemy.
The BALCO Labs investigation might turn out to be the much needed straw that could break the camel's back. Meanwhile, what will it take for mandatory and uniform drug testing in the sport of boxing? It is the right thing -the only thing- to do if we want to protect the athletes, the fans, and more importantly, the future of the sport.
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