Comments Thread For: Andre Ward Addresses Drug Testing Controversy

[Frank Ducketts]

People only care about testing when it comes to boxers that they don't like. Are you for testing for all boxers all over the world? What, too many fighters, too expensive? So many of you flip flop on this subject it's a damn shame.

[simms601]

I bet you were not defending Manny Pacquiao when he refused to take a drug test were you?
Oh the hypocrisy of some fans!

Actually I was behind Manny 100%! Floyd hadn't asked any fighter before Manny to take a test. I went on record (boxingscene) stating that if Floyd really wanted to clean up the sport, he'd be going at the commissions to have the drug testing procedures changed and not at the individual. So before you throw hypocrisy around, maybe you should ask first. And bringing up Manny doesn't support your argument. The situation with Manny and Floyd was different as those two were NEGOTIATING to fight, as Ward and Rodriguez was already SIGNED! What part of that do you NOT understand?

[JJRod]

Actually I was behind Manny 100%! Floyd hadn't asked any fighter before Manny to take a test. I went on record (boxingscene) stating that if Floyd really wanted to clean up the sport, he'd be going at the commissions to have the drug testing procedures changed and not at the individual. So before you throw hypocrisy around, maybe you should ask first. And bringing up Manny doesn't support your argument. The situation with Manny and Floyd was different as those two were NEGOTIATING to fight, as Ward and Rodriguez was already SIGNED! What part of that do you NOT understand?

If you criticized Floyd Mayweather for what he did to Pacquiao then I stand corrected.
What I don't understand is how a fighter like Ward came out 2 years ago and said he was pro testing and then when asked to do it, albeit after negotiations were done he refused. He still could have said lets do it, or if he was distrustful of VADA as many fighters are, he could have said lets use USADA.

What you don't seem to understand is that in today's sports when someone is having enormous success su****ion of cheating will follow him. More su****ion follows when that person refused to take a drug test, or particularly comes out and says I'm the champ you don't dictate to me.
It makes him look like he has something to hide.

[simms601]

That's a point though, why didn't Ward bring it up? He's been talking about testing for years.

I don't think Ward trusted the way the VADA situation was being put on him, and it seems like he's had a fall-out with Conte (who he used to work with).

It really has nothing to do with Conte really. All this ****s on here who think they know boxing really don't know ***** about boxing (Roger Mayweather voice) VADA testing doesn't allow for any amount of substance to be in your system. That's 0%!!!! So if you have the smallest trace of anything it will be detected and based on their process you have technically cheated. USADA and WADA allows for a certain percentage of a substance to be in your system before it's considered a enhancement substance. Fighters are prescribed steroids and other supplements to aid them in recoving from injury. What these so call fans don't understand, boxing is a hurt sport. Fighters get injured, so doctors give these fighters steroids to help recover. Well VADA testing will detect this and because they have a 0% process, you will fail their testing. It was the same way with Berto and Peterson, both of whom REQUESTED VADA for their fights. If a fighter was going to cheat, why would he request the strictest testing around? Ward just came off surgery, which I'm sure he was giving some type of steroid to help him recover, which I'm sure was given by a doctor. He would have failed the VADA testing, but pass USADA and every other drug testing including WADA. And again it doesn't matter if he rejected VADA, it was after the contracts were signed that Rodriguez brought it up.

[Los Zetas]

Andre should do testing. He is unusually strong in terms of pushing etc...

[Los Zetas]

VADA is not the way to go. As long as that criminal Conte is involved with VADA...all boxers should avoid being tested by that agency. Conte was a criminal who helped athletes cheat.

Conte isn't involved with Vada, he had 2 meetings with Goodman, a head. He actually explained how he got away with things, which was advice to catch athletes out...

[Rapid Counter]

I get the feeling that if Ward were asked in negotiations about taking tests then the fight just wouldnt have got signed anyway. If youre a champ and refusing to take tests then something shady is going on if you ask me.

[Russian Crushin]

People are so naive. Ward has endorsed OST for almost 4 years now, yet has never taken a test. Question is why, why aren't fighters signing up to test themselves? This is the same for all fighters who have endorsed OST, which is many, yet only 1 fighter in all of boxing has signed himself up for OST year round and thats Donaire.

What is this "research" Ward has been doing and why is it taking 4 years nows? People think getting test is so hard. You sign some papers and they test you, bam its pretty simple. But thats if you're clean and have nothing to hide.

[simms601]

If you criticized Floyd Mayweather for what he did to Pacquiao then I stand corrected.
What I don't understand is how a fighter like Ward came out 2 years ago and said he was pro testing and then when asked to do it, albeit after negotiations were done he refused. He still could have said lets do it, or if he was distrustful of VADA as many fighters are, he could have said lets use USADA.

What you don't seem to understand is that in today's sports when someone is having enormous success su****ion of cheating will follow him. More su****ion follows when that person refused to take a drug test, or particularly comes out and says I'm the champ you don't dictate to me.
It makes him look like he has something to hide.

If VADA was something Rodriguez and his camp really wanted to do, they should have mentioned it during the negotiations. Ward may be pro testing, but he's also a professional and when the contracts are signed that's it. If his refusal had come during the negotiations, then su****ion is justified, but this was afterwards. It was the same with Pascal and Hopkins. Pascal waited until after the negotations were done to scream drug testing. In the manner that Rodriguez went about mentioning the drug testing, he was clearly trying to dictate Ward. It was a great ploy, but it didn't work. I'm in agreement with Ward, you don't mention it after negotiations are over. You've mentioned distrusting VADA and using USADA doesn't really mean anything either. Contracts were signed, money was finalized, using USADA or VADA would have meant that these fighters probably would have had to come out of pocket to have the testing done. It was simply a ploy on the behalf of Rodriguez and his camp to dictate and it didn't work.

[Weebler I]

It really has nothing to do with Conte really. All this ****s on here who think they know boxing really don't know ***** about boxing (Roger Mayweather voice) VADA testing doesn't allow for any amount of substance to be in your system. That's 0%!!!! So if you have the smallest trace of anything it will be detected and based on their process you have technically cheated. USADA and WADA allows for a certain percentage of a substance to be in your system before it's considered a enhancement substance. Fighters are prescribed steroids and other supplements to aid them in recoving from injury. What these so call fans don't understand, boxing is a hurt sport. Fighters get injured, so doctors give these fighters steroids to help recover. Well VADA testing will detect this and because they have a 0% process, you will fail their testing. It was the same way with Berto and Peterson, both of whom REQUESTED VADA for their fights. If a fighter was going to cheat, why would he request the strictest testing around? Ward just came off surgery, which I'm sure he was giving some type of steroid to help him recover, which I'm sure was given by a doctor. He would have failed the VADA testing, but pass USADA and every other drug testing including WADA. And again it doesn't matter if he rejected VADA, it was after the contracts were signed that Rodriguez brought it up.

Basically you're saying you believe Ward turned down testing because he might've had an illegal substance in his body.

I don't know about that, he had surgery a long time ago now. I just think he maybe felt like he was being set up and didn't trust the situation. Imo he likely then looked at USADA, found out it cost so much and thought 'nahh, maybe next time'. USADA costs 5 times more or something, and it's not small change (just speculating of course).

Incidentally, Peterson wasn't recovering from surgery. Iirc he had testosterone pellets in his a$$.