Why Random Blood Testing Wont Become Compulsory in Boxing
January 10th, 2010
by Daniel Ciminera: I have been sitting around thinking about all this talk of random blood testing and I have come up with a number of reasons not to introduce mandatory randomized blood testing. The reasons range from it being expensive, to being potentially dangerous and also outdated. I really don’t think compulsory random testing will become standard practice. I can’t think of one single positive outcome from it’s introduction. Here is some of the science behind my conclusion, and some of the cheaper, more reliable alternatives.
• Blood testing is archaic and irrelevant in sport today. Huge advancements have been made in urine testing to the point where urine can tell you everything blood can and more. However, urine tests can be corrupted by drinking liters and liters of water to dilute the substance, making them less reliable in certain circumstances. However, with performance enhancing drugs, they are used regularly and in quantities which could not be easily diluted out of the urine to below a detectable level. Also, when making a weight, boxers often dehydrate themselves intentionally to make sure they make the required weight so it is not likely they are going to be able to drink kilograms of water and still pull off this trick. You just have to look at how gaunt Ricky Hatton was when he weighed in against Floyd Mayweather Jr. to see the effect that alone can have on the body without the aforementioned depletion of hemoglobin-containing red blood cells.
• Even more accurate and reliable is a saliva test. It is a little known fact that saliva is pretty much identical to the blood’s plasma and only 2 types of drug cannot be found in saliva. Neither of which is a performance enhancing substance. What’s more, is that it is very very difficult to corrupt a saliva test so there is no way of drinking the result clean for example as with a urine test and also, unlike the urine test, the sample is obtained under direct supervision. Testing bodies carrying out random drugs tests in America for pre-employment testing among others, claim that saliva testing is the most effective method of drug testing. There is also no depletive effect on the boxer, so why not use them? Boxers could feasibly submit more than one saliva sample per day whilst training and right up until the minute before the fight. It is only a matter of time, in my opinion, before saliva testing becomes the norm in all drugs testing, not just sports. The only thing holding it back currently, is the fact that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) haven’t approved saliva for official tests yet. The reason it will be approved sooner rather than later is the fact that saliva is not a biohazard like contaminated blood.
• There has never been a problem with boxers “juicing-up”, apart from isolated instances of individual boxers (i.e. not entire stables under specific trainers). So why, without a sudden increase in positive tests, especially when the main suspect Pacquiao has never tested positive in his career, would it even be considered by the governing bodies. Even if it was mooted, the conclusion that it is unnecessary, expensive, and harmful would likely be reached.
It just isn’t fair to presume all athletes are guilty until proven otherwise. Nobody else in society is treated that way, so why should athletes, especially those representing one of the “cleanest” sports on earth, be branded in this way. It is an insult to the sport and I don’t believe boxers wouldn’t accept it. You can dress it up however you like with it being for their safety. But, the sport needs to move on and forget this debacle as soon as possible if it is to survive in these current changing times with MMA ever on the increase. The worst thing that could happen is that we start losing fighters too, especially now when boxing appears to be making a comeback.
It is also likely that if prima donna boxers like Mayweather start demanding extra drug testing, then the sports governing bodies, and American state athletic commissions wont stand for being told how to do their jobs. There are already more than adequate testing procedures in boxing which is proved by the fact there is hardly ever an instance of a boxer testing positive for performance enhancing substances.
Tags: 29 Responses to “Why Random Blood Testing Wont Become Compulsory in Boxing”
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Good points, I think I will definitely subscribe! I’ll go and read some more! What do you see the future of this being?
Please check this out. This is an interview of Manny Pacquiao on a local Philippine TV show taken on March 2005 after the 1st Pacquiao-Morales fight. This is the reason why Manny is not amenable for a blood test done a few days before the fight with PBF… And the real reason why the Mayweather camp insist on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdY1xZ3fh20&feature=player_embedded
I had a couple vials of blood drawn 3 weeks ago for cholesterol and other tests. No one told me not to exercise that day, so I did my regular exercising including cardio. I was fine. We have blood drives twice a year where I work. When I donate blood (1 pint) they tell me no strenuos excercise that day and to drink plenty of fluids. I don’t do anything strenuos, but I do walk for a couple miles at moderate pace and have no problem. To tell the truth, I never feel any different after donating blood, but I have never done anything more than walk at moderate pace. The day after donating a pint of blood, I do my normal cardio workout and I’m fine. I do know a co-worker who excercised in the morning before donating blood and then just walked maybe a half mile after donating and she had some problems.
Promoter tells the boxers on what to do not another boxer. What he did to Marquez is smart… he pays Marquez ### amount of $$$ so he will fight Mayweather regardless of his weight… Now, he is trying to pull the same crap tp Pacquiao. It’s not going to happened. Mayweather is a “punk’d” who wants a fight that we would dominate so he can claim that he is the best boxer ever. I don’t think so… I will still put my money on Paquiao even thou he “JUST FINISHED FIGHTING MIGUEL COTTO”. Again, boxer doesn’t demand another boxer what to do. Sign the contract and fight!
Assuming what you said is correct this a very informative article. My only query is your conclusion that no extra measures are needed because no boxers have been caught using drugs and therefore are clean, making excessive testing redundant; but is it not possible that boxers are not getting not because they are clean but because the current system employed by governing bodies are inadequate especially considering other sports and organisations (eg the Olympics)don’t share boxing’s confidence in urine testing?
>2 or 3 small vials more than once, which have a “culminative” affect on the body’s ability to carry oxygen.
You mean, “cumulative effect.” Enlightening article.
Hey Dan,
I think for any reason, if there is a better alternative which is less “invasive” as such and has a lesser impact on the body than the current method; but crucially is as accurate, then it should not be left down to an “institutionalised” method where others can replace it.
I’d like to hear a doctor recommend a boxer to have blood drawn 2 days before a fight. Especially when he’s at weigh-in, being careful to maintain his weight by not eating and drinking in excess or at all in some cases. He’s already in a weakened state, and to request that is unprofessional.
On the subject of Pacquiao in particular, i do think it odd at the least that his records were mysteriously “lost” at such a crucial time before the fight. In most cases, things this convenient, just aren’t coincidence.
Alternatively if 5ml samples were taken as you say is also possible that only represents 1.27% of a 160lbs man – scaling this to a 147lbs man this represents merely 2% of the overall blood volume. Given that the first sample is taken assuming no blood is replaced by the time of the fight. If the first test is the press conference this can be discounted as you correctly state the oxygen carrying red blood cells (haemaglobin is merely the oxygen carrying chemical present in red cells) is made up within 2 months. Assuming a 3 month gap between conference and fight it is reasonable to assume more than 0.5% could be replaced, so in fact in a best case scenario you’re talking less than 1.5% of total red blood cell count. Stick to boxing commentary not maths. Leave opinion on appropriate testing to testing experts, not boxing commissions or sport’s governing bodies who are well known to be corrupt. The issue clearly isn’t blood its random testing and the fact that some PED’s can be flushed in hours or days depending on the drug. Testing must be random for boxing to retain its credibility. Boxing doesn’t require random testing therefore no tests can currently be relied upon whether blood, urine, saliva or otherwise because it isn’t random and therefore allows fighters the opportunity to schedule PED abuse to avoid the tests. Scheduled tests are an utter waste of time period and until boxing’s powers that be admit this no on can claim boxing to be clean. There is no reliable proof for this. I would rather fight a randomly tested fighter with 1.5% less blood than one who’d gone through scheduled tests with 100%. The potential risk is a fighter’s life which is why its more important for boxing than any other sport. Random tests of whatever sort, the only up front way to go.
aaaaaaand as i already explained, altitude training can increase your bloods by over 1.5 litres.
if cyclists are riding up mountains every day, i would class that as intensive altitude training, as would most people.
therefore they are physically able to give more blood and still have more than they normally would
also, a typical steroid “stack” takes 2 months therefore would be detected
i know they arent donating blood, but as i explained, “While it is only a relatively small amount of blood they take for testing, less than donating blood for example, it can still have a drastic and culminative affect on the body (severity varies from person to person).”
it isnt one tiny vial. it is 2 or 3 small vials more than once, which have a culminative affect on the body’s ability to carry oxygen. which in the real world means stamina is reduced and the onset of fatigue is exaggerated and accellerated
I think the reason there isn’t a problem with roids in boxing is probably cause they have an average of two months between tests. Plenty of time to start a cycle of roids, finish, and get cleen, before the next test.
who wants to see a fight between two sapped fighters?
And they aren’t talking about donating blood. They are talking about a tiny vial full.
You act like Mayweather wont be taking the same tests and Pac would be at a disadvantage. Since they would both be taking the same tests then what is the problem?
WILLDTW brought up a good point about the Tour de France. Four or more blood tests a week and then they ride a bike up a mountian. Doesn’t look like it hurts them too much.
there is only a finite amount of blood in the body average 160lb man will have around 4.7 litres. this can be increased by over a litre and a half with serious altitude training. but, as i say, there is only so much of it and the body can only produce so much of it.
my figures came from lecture notes handed out at leicester university in england. so im pretty sure they are correct.
also a 2008 study by Pottgiesser et al, titled “Recovery of hemoglobin mass after blood donation” states that in their study, it took “20-59 days for recovery.” which as i stated in the article, is “up to 2 months”.
no sport requires daily blood samples be given. it would be seriously dangerous.
maybe the more than required sapping blood letting that goes on in cycling (not that i claim to know anything about cycling) is the reason more cyclists than boxers choose to use performance enhancing drugs!!
the fact of the matter remains, doping isn’t a big problem in boxing.
My bad, not the 5th test more like the 10th test but they would still be dead in a couple of weeks.
Daniel
I’ve been boxing for about 7 years and I’ve been competing in the amateurs for over 5 years so I know exactly what a boxer goes through. I also like watching other sports like cycling. If I didn’t follow cycling at all I would be just as uniformed as most of the boxing community. Look at the Tour de France every year many cyclist are caught using PEDs or blood doping. If you win a stage these test are mandatory immediately and most of the top riders are tested 4 or 5 days a week anyway. Then the next day the rider has to ride another 130 miles or so. According to your numbers they would be dead from loss of blood after the 5
ok willdtw
go donate blood and try to jump rope for 3 mins. see if you make it to the end.
i don’t think you quite realise the ordeal the body of a boxer goes through
Finally SANITY remains….BOXING IS NOT CYCLING OR SPRINT!!!!…
it’s human being HITTING EACH OTHER…that requires a LOT of ENERGY for a 3 minute brutal encounter….
Thanks for the author Daniel for putting all sanity in place.
This article is totally inaccurate. It’s sad because this the most dangerous sport and even the boxing scribes are clueless on the subject. Olympic style testing should be mandatory in all the big fights in order to protect the fighters.
Ok people I kep hearing talking about HGH not being able to be detected 1-2 days out from when it was taken,but you people are forgeting that HGH is pretty useless for atheletes unless it is use with cunjunction of a other drugs(peds such as testosterone ,insulin,igf,ect..) now if you an elderly person Hgh can help you bone density and organ mass.
also, i am not even proposing that these measures should be introduced.
i would like things to remain as they are. but if extra measures are introduced, these alternatives should be looked at.
for me, boxers have no place dictating to the governing bodies who gets extra testing and who doesnt. the current level of testing is more than adequate
lmao, i dont get paid by anyone unfortunately.
i don’t see how i have painted mayweather in a bad light with this? all i have done is explained the reasons why random blood testing won’t/shouldn’t become compulsory.
simply because there are better alternatives which are less invasive.
it just happens to be topical at the moment because mayweather and pacquiao are involved in this dispute and people are calling for it to be compulsory for everyone.
think about it. when you donate blood they take around 10% of your blood, and you have to stay under observation for a while until they are satisfied you wont pass out. pacquiao is smaller than most of us and would be losing around 4% probably slightly more of his oxygen carrying potential.
the only cure for that would be intensive altitude training. and even then, pacquiao, or any other person for that matter, could feel drained by it all. ESPECIALLY when you are in the ring with who is regarded by many people as one of the best of all time in mayweather. you really do need to be in the best physical condition it is possible to be.
@please!!
Well I can only speak for HGH testing based on what Dr. Catlin and a few others have said. Blood is antiquated and is not effective for detecting HGH beyond a 24-36 hour window. Urine has actually surpassed blood for HGH, using a technology called Nanotrap to detect the smallest levels of HGH.
…ryan
Its obvious that u were paid by Top Rank to write this junk! there’s no problems with blood testing in the Olympics! why now? Mayweather would be subjected to the same testing! you’re writing as if Pacquiao is the only one being tested! get real this is all about $$$$$$$….. all u are trying to do is discredit Mayweather!
True.
NSAC have to ask themselves if the accuser in this case Mayweathers and GBP, really sincere of a level playingfield. That they have to ammend the rules to all boxers from this point on.
no, they could use it if they wanted for their own piece of mind, but i found something about SAMHSA not having approved it for official drugs tests yet.
i’m from the uk, so im not really all that familiar with how it all works over with you and what constitutes an “official” drugs test and what not.
I haven’t fact-checked all of what you have written Daniel, but if even 75% of it is true, it tells a much bigger story than the finger-pointing going on boy pro-Mayweather and pro-Pacquiao fans.
Saliva testing (again if what you say is accurate) seems like a no-brainer. Somebody should present this idea to the NSAC at once. Or were you saying that SAMHSA has to approve saliva before athletic commissions can adopt it?
Great article, either way.
…ryan