Comments Thread For: Boxing Turns Another Blind Eye

[Butt stuff]

It isn't a simple binary decision. If you want to say that all "cheating" is equal and deserving of the same penalty, you would have to consider a definition of what cheating is.

I would argue that a rich boxer with a good trainer and equipment could be considered cheating if he's preparing to fight a poor man with poor equipment.

It's a way to gain an unfair advantage, as are all other forms of "cheating". If it were a blanket ban, rich fighters would have to share their training with the opponent or be banned for life.

The subtleties make each case unique, and they should be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Cheating is going against what the rules allow. If one boxer has access to better training and equipment, it is an unfair advantage, but only that. If it's allowed within the rules then it isn't cheating. The rules aren't perfect, but it's clear on PEDs.

At the end of the day it should just be two fighters in the ring giving it their best. If there's something else in the ring with them, EPO etc – then one fighter is hitting harder, faster, longer and more likely to cause long term damage.