By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
As a former ringside physician and Medical Advisory Board Chairman for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Las Vegas-based neurologist Dr. Margaret Goodman "was part of advancing medical testing of both MMA fighters and boxers that included MRI scans and testing for anabolic steroids" in the early 2000s.
"The MRI testing, at the time, started in 2001 as a pilot program. There was a time where fighters were being educated," said Goodman, recalling that one of the major hurdles hindering an MRI testing program was cost. "So it was in 2001 that the individuals were notified, and then in 2002, the testing was actually begun more uniformly. [Cost] was one of the main arguments in order to get us to not do it."
But the proponents of safety in the NSAC continued to peck away at the problem until a resolution was reached.
"When we did MRI studies, the MRI studies were $1,500 apiece, and we got the price down to $425. That's still a lot of money to a kid who is earning $100 a round. But the point is that with this drug-testing, I'm sure there's ways to negotiate it so that it wouldn't be nearly as costly," said Goodman.
"When it came to instituting MRI/MRA testing in Nevada, we were able to negotiate reasonable prices. Former Nevada commissioner Dr. Flip Homansky and I sat down with radiologists and radiological facilities and hammered out the details," said Goodman.
"The commission held a hearing on the matter. Initially, everyone told us it would be impossible and ruin boxing in the state, but we got it done, and boxing prospered instead of declined in Nevada. I am sure that this can be done for PED testing," said Goodman.
"When I was chairman of the Association of Boxing Commission's medical committee over five years ago, drug testing -- not PED-- but just routine
drug testing 
for drugs of abuse was discussed," said Goodman. "Today, a few more states are testing, but only a handful test for PED's."
In other words, Goodman believes that it is time for the implementation of a comprehensive random drug-testing procedure involving blood and urine extraction from boxers. She believes that it can be made as affordable as MRI testing was for the sport of boxing when the thought first surfaced nearly 10 years ago.
"I believe that if the athletic commission were to approach the World Anti-Doping Agency, or, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, I'm sure that there is a way that the cost could be reduced, or there could be some kind of arrangement made even with the local laboratories," said Goodman.
"Do this under a research project, get funding. This is not that complicated. You don't want to just work with yourself, you want to work outside of yourself with other experts," said Goodman. "As much expertise as the Nevada Commission's Medical Advisory Board has, they're not experts in drug testing."
Random drug testing has been in the boxing news since late November, when a proposed megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao reached a impasse over whether or not both fighters would be randomly tested during training.
Leading up to his May 1 unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, Mayweather and his rival were randomly tested -- a first in boxing -- by the USADA.
But opinions vary on the effectiveness of the procedure and whether or not it belongs in boxing.
"Following the Pacquiao-Mayweather debacle over drug testing, I asked the American Association of Professional Ring Physicians to query commissions as to whether or not they were considering changing their drug-testing polices regarding PED's," said Goodman.
"Essentially none responded positively," said Goodman. "But I know that this can be handled expeditiously with the direct assistance and oversight of WADA and/or USADA. I know these organizations will help, as would Don Catlin, director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory."
Goodman, in other words, is a staunch advocate.
"I think that PED testing can be affordable, at least this must be investigated now. But cost is always the bottom-line, and rightly so," said Goodman. "It isn't fair to expect a club fighter to have to spend 50 percent or more of their purse on testing. However, from previous experience, commissions will concern themselves with the following:
1. Man power needed to administer the testing or administrative costs.
2. The overall costs of the testing, and who is going to foot the bill.
3. The repercussions in fight card cancellations.
4. Whether or not the jurisdiction loses cards simply by instituting a rigorous drug testing program.
5. If a fighter tests positive, and the bout is canceled, what are the costs in defending the test results -- possible legal fees -- and will the testing stand up in court.
"No commission wants fighters competing on PED's, but these are all understandable issues that need to be addressed. The main approach is for commissions to acknowledge the problem and sit down with experts like Don Catlin to design a feasible testing protocol. They would need to negotiate the fees, educate the fighters and trainers on the process, and begin implementation," said Goodman.
"I would ask the oversight organization to include input and advice from respected former trainers and fighters and Dr. Homansky, who was the first in the United States to institute drug and steroid testing," said Goodman. "The USADA has opened the door to show boxing this can be done, so it is too late to ignore the situation."
Source:
boxing.fanhouse.com
and Floyd Mayweather succeed in dotting the Is and crossing the Ts, the outcome of the fight being proposed for November 13 will end in Mayweather’s favor.
“It’s actually going to be much easier (for Floyd),” said Roger, referring to the lopsided win scored against Mosley last May 1.
