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Forget about Pac and Floyd. Whats wrong with cleaning up boxing?
Understanding that performance enhancing drugs use is as rampant in boxing as it is in other sports, following his departure from the NSAC Dr. Homansky knows what will help the situation. We recommended two things: between-competition random testing and expansion of the drug profile to include that used by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Regulations were changed, but not enough.
When random testing is now conducted of Nevada licensees, such as in the case of Pacquiao and Mayweather, athletes are given 48 hours to show up for their drug profile (in contrast to WADA protocols of unannounced testing). Unannounced testing was adopted by WADA as many drugs will stay in someone's system for a short period of time. Giving the athlete a "heads-up" unfortunately taints the process. Furthermore, the Nevada profile remains void of an evaluation of growth hormone and blood doping -including the substance erythropoietin (EPO).
So, when accusations are flying as to whether or not the boxers are using PED's, the pending Nevada results will tell us something, but not enough. Furthermore, it would be highly unlikely for these boxers to test positive for any PED substance more than three months out from a scheduled bout. I guess it will serve as a baseline if the fight is made, but with an exclusion of growth hormone, EPO and blood counts -the very substances at the heart of the controversy.
Thorough Olympic-style drug testing in boxing must start now. I say this not because there are countless cheats out there who are creating an uneven playing field, but because these drugs are dangerous to the opponents and to those who indiscriminately take them.
So, instead of Nevada trying to argue that their drug-testing requirements are sufficient, when it is obvious they are not, they should enlist the help of WADA and their own Medical Advisory Board to expand their protocols and include blood testing when needed. This is not an admission that things were conducted poorly before, but a demonstration that the commission recognizes that what might have worked ten years ago, doesn't hold true any longer.
Urine testing is great for drugs of abuse, like narcotics and stimulants, but athletes have gone way beyond these types of substances that are better detected in the blood. There is also more credibility and finality to blood testing. Blood can also be stored for years and later tested. And, we have unfortunately seen instances where fighters have falsified urine test results. And in a state where ******** is its major industry, such testing will enhance public confidence that fights are fair, and that kind of good PR for boxing has no price.
If Pac gets caught ...Oh Well
If Floyd helps initiate these tests and some hate him...oh well
Regulations were changed, but not enough.
When random testing is now conducted of Nevada licensees, such as in the case of Pacquiao and Mayweather, athletes are given 48 hours to show up for their drug profile (in contrast to WADA protocols of unannounced testing). Unannounced testing was adopted by WADA as many drugs will stay in someone's system for a short period of time. Giving the athlete a "heads-up" unfortunately taints the process. Furthermore, the Nevada profile remains void of an evaluation of growth hormone and blood doping -including the substance erythropoietin (EPO).
So, when accusations are flying as to whether or not the boxers are using PED's, the pending Nevada results will tell us something, but not enough. Furthermore, it would be highly unlikely for these boxers to test positive for any PED substance more than three months out from a scheduled bout. I guess it will serve as a baseline if the fight is made, but with an exclusion of growth hormone, EPO and blood counts -the very substances at the heart of the controversy.
Thorough Olympic-style drug testing in boxing must start now. I say this not because there are countless cheats out there who are creating an uneven playing field, but because these drugs are dangerous to the opponents and to those who indiscriminately take them.
So, instead of Nevada trying to argue that their drug-testing requirements are sufficient, when it is obvious they are not, they should enlist the help of WADA and their own Medical Advisory Board to expand their protocols and include blood testing when needed. This is not an admission that things were conducted poorly before, but a demonstration that the commission recognizes that what might have worked ten years ago, doesn't hold true any longer.
Urine testing is great for drugs of abuse, like narcotics and stimulants, but athletes have gone way beyond these types of substances that are better detected in the blood. There is also more credibility and finality to blood testing. Blood can also be stored for years and later tested. And, we have unfortunately seen instances where fighters have falsified urine test results. And in a state where ******** is its major industry, such testing will enhance public confidence that fights are fair, and that kind of good PR for boxing has no price.
If Pac gets caught ...Oh Well
If Floyd helps initiate these tests and some hate him...oh well
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