If HBO was to demand random drug testing for all boxers on their network...

[Clegg]

...would you support it?

There would be an unlimited number of tests
There would be no prior notice of when the testers would arrive
The tests would be both blood and urine
Anyone who tested positive would be removed from the card
Anyone who refused testing would be removed from the card.

Since the May-Pac negotiations I've read several articles on drug testing in sports and feel that it's very easy for boxers to cheat by using banned substances. In my opinion it's ridiculous that professional cycling can manage such effective procedures, yet boxing, which is a far more dangerous sport, doesn't seem at all concerned with ensuring a level playing field. If a cyclist cheats, his opponent will not die or be hurt. If a boxer cheats then he's putting another man's health at serious risk.

HBO is the home of most of the biggest fights and the most successful boxers. There is no realistic chance of it happening, but if they were to take action then this would go a long, long way to seeing that there is less cheating in the sport.

[βetamax]

I'd definitely support it. It's not like there's a downside.

[shadeyfizzle]

I would fully support any random testing demands by any legitimate governing body.

If any state athletic commission required it i would support it
If any sanctioning body like the wbc required it i would support it.

But to me hbo demanding it would be the same as gbp demanding it of pacquiao but not of any of their own fighters.

any fighters who refused to be tested would very easily be picked up by showtime and we will all still watch them fight.

[Clyde Barrow]

Fuck it, why not?

[Clegg]

I would fully support any random testing demands by any legitimate governing body.

If any state athletic commission required it i would support it
If any sanctioning body like the wbc required it i would support it.

But to me hbo demanding it would be the same as gbp demanding it of pacquiao but not of any of their own fighters.

any fighters who refused to be tested would very easily be picked up by showtime and we will all still watch them fight.

But GBP's stance on Pacquiao is a clear double-standard, whereas if HBO did it, they'd be doing it for every boxer. No individual would be singled out.

The amount of money that Showtime can offer is less than what HBO can offer. People can look at Pacquiao's refusal and say that he was being singled out and accused. But any boxer who refused HBO's tests would look a lot more guilty. I also think it's possible that Showtime would follow HBO's lead and put a similar testing program in place.

While I agree that it'd be better for a commission to do this, rather than a TV company, things could be kept professional by using WADA or a similar organisation. There's also a precedent here, in that German TV station ARD require boxers to be tested, and this has already led to at least one drug cheat being caught before the fight took place in the recent Felix Sturm fight.

[Hitman932]

It's not a bad idea. I'm not sure about the logistics of something like this and HBO is clearly out of touch with what boxing fans want so the chances of them taking the lead in advancing the sport are between slim and none.

I think steroid accusations are overblown in boxing specifically. They should be worried about EPO and blood boosters not so much about steroids.

Most fighters are trying to cut 15-20% of their bodyweight in the months leading up to a fight, that makes taking substances that will bulk you up and replace fat with heavier muscle a counterproductive measure.

Eddie Chambers is a good example, having been linked to Balco labs yet I don't see how people come to that conclusion when the guy lost 15 pounds in about 3 months between his most recent fights.

[lefthook2daliva]

...would you support it?

There would be an unlimited number of tests
There would be no prior notice of when the testers would arrive
The tests would be both blood and urine
Anyone who tested positive would be removed from the card
Anyone who refused testing would be removed from the card.

Since the May-Pac negotiations I've read several articles on drug testing in sports and feel that it's very easy for boxers to cheat by using banned substances. In my opinion it's ridiculous that professional cycling can manage such effective procedures, yet boxing, which is a far more dangerous sport, doesn't seem at all concerned with ensuring a level playing field. If a cyclist cheats, his opponent will not die or be hurt. If a boxer cheats then he's putting another man's health at serious risk.

HBO is the home of most of the biggest fights and the most successful boxers. There is no realistic chance of it happening, but if they were to take action then this would go a long, long way to seeing that there is less cheating in the sport.

Absolutely. We might lose a couple of good fights to start with, but in the long run it's much better for the sport.

[shadeyfizzle]

But GBP's stance on Pacquiao is a clear double-standard, whereas if HBO did it, they'd be doing it for every boxer. No individual would be singled out.

The amount of money that Showtime can offer is less than what HBO can offer. People can look at Pacquiao's refusal and say that he was being singled out and accused. But any boxer who refused HBO's tests would look a lot more guilty. I also think it's possible that Showtime would follow HBO's lead and put a similar testing program in place.

While I agree that it'd be better for a commission to do this, rather than a TV company, things could be kept professional by using WADA or a similar organisation. There's also a precedent here, in that German TV station ARD require boxers to be tested, and this has already led to at least one drug cheat being caught before the fight took place in the recent Felix Sturm fight.

To me it's still the same. GBP was pretty much telling pacquiao submit to this or you cant fight any fighters from our stable.

HBO or any other network for that matter does it it'd be submit to this or you cant participate in the card.

If a fighter gets dropped by hbo and picked up by showtime we will all still watch regardless. If they pick up a big win that fighter's stock rises regardless so in the end it does not hurt them too badly.

Which is why I would much rather prefer a governing or even a sanctioning body preside over a matter like this because of uniformity.

I would much rather it be a requirement for say...all wbc title fights. That way it will be the same no matter the fighter, no matter the weight class, no matter the venue, no matter the network broadcasting the fight.

[check hook]

...would you support it?

There would be an unlimited number of tests
There would be no prior notice of when the testers would arrive
The tests would be both blood and urine
Anyone who tested positive would be removed from the card
Anyone who refused testing would be removed from the card.

Since the May-Pac negotiations I've read several articles on drug testing in sports and feel that it's very easy for boxers to cheat by using banned substances. In my opinion it's ridiculous that professional cycling can manage such effective procedures, yet boxing, which is a far more dangerous sport, doesn't seem at all concerned with ensuring a level playing field. If a cyclist cheats, his opponent will not die or be hurt. If a boxer cheats then he's putting another man's health at serious risk.

HBO is the home of most of the biggest fights and the most successful boxers. There is no realistic chance of it happening, but if they were to take action then this would go a long, long way to seeing that there is less cheating in the sport.

[SIZE="4"]

You are all missing the point!!!!!!! It should not be up to the network....they have an even bigger conflict of interest than the commissions .....the relevant athletic commissions and governing bodies (ie WBC) need to bite the bullet and contract an external agency with no conflicts of interest with this task preferably WADA. This is what any sport that is serious about doping does with it's drug testing protocols.

It gives their measures and hence their sport instant credibility.[/SIZE]

[shadeyfizzle]

[SIZE="4"]

You are all missing the point!!!!!!! It should not be up to the network....they have an even bigger conflict of interest than the commissions .....the relevant athletic commissions and governing bodies (ie WBC) need to bite the bullet and contract an external agency with no conflicts of interest with this task preferably WADA. This is what any sport that is serious about doping does with it's drug testing protocols.

It gives their measures and hence their sport instant credibility.[/SIZE]

I agree with your general statement but please dont buy into the team mayweather bull**** about boxing's credibility or lack thereof because of drug testing protocols.

While testing protocols can always be improved...as it stands right now boxing and mma already have the more stringent drug testing policies than any other sport in the US.

Stricter than MLB
Stricter than NFL
Stricter than NHL
Stricter than NBA
Stricter than MLS
Stricter than NASCAR

To borrow a quote from dana white:
"If every sport was subjected to the kind of testing boxing and the UFC is subjected to....there wouldnt be any football on sundays"