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Zab Judah asks Shane Mosley to agree to blood testing for drugs before welterweight fight
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Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The buildup to prize fights traditionally has included boasts, staredowns and preening. Now, in a sign of the times, the pre-fight buzz includes an additional element: A call for drug testing.
Zab Judah wants Sugar Shane Mosley to agree to blood testing before their non-title welterweight fight May 31 in Las Vegas. Mosley, who has admitted taking steroids before a 2003 bout but claims it was inadvertent, says he'll agree to any drug testing -- but his promoters are not willing to go that far.
Judah said Tuesday at a news conference to promote the fight that he wants Mosley to agree to have both fighters submit to blood tests now, right before the fight and after the fight.
"I think with the enhanced drugs that Mosley has taken in the past," Judah said, "I want it done before and after the fight, and I want it done now. Mosley is a smart guy, he's not going to do it (take drugs) right before the fight."
Mosley responded that he was ready for such testing at any time.
"We can test every week or whatever, as long as they test him as well. Not just for steroids, but for other drugs," Mosley said.
One of Judah's managers, Michael Shinefield, said he sent an e-mail two weeks ago to Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Mosley, calling for blood testing for both fighters. Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said he has not responded to that e-mail, but that Mosley will agree to any tests required by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"[COLOR="rgb(139, 0, 0)"]Whatever tests they want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires," Schaefer said. "The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."[/COLOR]
The Nevada commission requires urine testing of fighters immediately after bouts, but does not require blood tests. Drug experts differ over whether blood tests are more effective than urine tests at detecting some performance-enhancing drugs.
"We only do urine tests. Our inspectors collect urine from the fighters on fight night. Our inspectors aren't qualified or licensed to draw blood," Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said in a telephone interview. "If they want to do any other type of test, that's up to them, they're free to do that."
Last year, Mosley acknowledged using steroids before a bout against Oscar De La Hoya in 2003, but said the use was unintentional. Mosley testified in 2003 before the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative grand jury. He never has tested positive for drugs, and has not been charged in the BALCO case.
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