Boxing commission mulls testing for PEDs -- New York Post

By George Willis, New York Post

The New York State Athletic Commission is considering changes in the way it regulates boxing in the state, changes that could include implementing blood-testing procedures to detect performance enhancing drugs.

Melvina Lathan, chairwoman of the NYSAC, said the commission's medical advisory board is in the process of researching various policies and procedures available to regulate boxing, including blood testing for PEDs.

"We're in the process of doing the research now," Lathan said. "We have been for several weeks. We're going to upgrade our testing policies. As soon as my medical advisory board gets back to me with their findings, we're going to look over their recommendations."

The NYSAC currently tests for steroids and other banned substances through a urinalysis conducted not only just before and immediately after every championship fight, but also other random bouts.

But growing concern over the use of HGH and other PED's detectable only through blood tests has caused the NYSAC to investigate whether changes are needed.

"We're tossing around a lot of policies," Lathan said. "We're trying to find out which ones work better for our state, for our boxers and for boxing. We're trying to get what works, and once we get all of those things together, then we'll come out with a statement about our policies."

An impasse over blood-testing procedures ruined a potential bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. And the use of PEDs became a topic during a press conference yesterday to announce the May 15 WBA junior welterweight title fight between the champion Amir Khan of England and challenger Paulie Malignaggi of Brooklyn. The fight will be held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Malignaggi recently ruffled Khan's camp by saying it has crossed his mind that Khan might be dirty considering he trains with Pacquiao at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles. Pacquiao and Khan both train under Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza.

"I know some people have made some comments about [Pacquiao and Khan] using steroids and that ticked me off," Roach said yesterday. "Why can't they just accept that these two guys work harder and they're great fighters?"

Malignaggi didn't back down.

"I stand by what I said. But this is between Paulie Malignaggi and Amir Khan," Malignaggi said. "It's not about Freddie Roach. It's not about Manny Pacquiao. It isn't about steroids. On May 15, the bell is going to ring and we're going to settle it in there."

The NYSAC probably won't have its new policies in place by then, but perhaps by the end of the summer.

"It's something that needs to be addressed," Lathan said. "It's been a number of years since it's been dealt with, and I think it's something we need to look at. It's still in the discussion phase. There are a lot more meetings and a lot more discussions left until we actually settle in on something final."

george.willis@nypost.com

Source: nypost.com