By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Drug-testing procedures for a potential super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., if held in Las Vegas, will be limited to urine testing, as far as the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is concerned.
The NSAC upheld on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) its drug-testing procedure on boxers as topnotch doctors Robert Voy and David Watson told the commission that urine samples are sufficient in catching drug-cheats.
Fight scribe Mike Marley wrote that Voy, a long-time Olympic boxing physician, and Watson, a member of the NSAC medical board, were of the belief that random blood testing is not the answer to curbing the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
The two were involved in NSAC talks to review its current drug testing procedures for boxing, and assess whether or not a more stringent policy should be implemented.
It goes beyond saying that the talks were most critical to the proposed Pacquiao- Mayweather showdown being eyed for November 13, in which drug-testing procedures are a main point of negotiations.
Voy, formerly the chief medical officer of the US Olympic Committee, said blood-testing in boxing is “unreliable and impractical” and even “dangerous” and that urine testing should be done “closer to the event, the better.”
Watson echoed the same sentiment.
“I believe that urine is the best substance to test. I agree with Dr. Voy that urine (random testing) is what we should require and that blood is not necessary. I agree with Dr. Voy that there are theoretical and real risks to blood testing one of which is a (boxer getting) a hematoma on the elbow or a clot from missing a vein. There are also HIV and Hepatitis C risks,” said Watson.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather bout had originally been penciled for March 13 but a feud in drug-testing procedure sent negotiations down the drain.
Mayweather demanded for Olympic-style random blood and urine drug testing to be conducted on both fighters.
Source: mb.com.ph
Thursday 10 June 2010
Drug-testing methods on Nevada State Athletic Commission radar -- Las Vegas Sun
By Ray Brewer, Las Vegas Sun
The drug-testing methods used by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in detecting human growth hormone use by combat-sport fighters is considered inadequate by one expert.
Travis Tygart, the chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, told commissioners Wednesday during a monthly athletic commission meeting that the urinalysis testing fighters are subject to before and after a match will detect several illegal substances — just not human growth hormone.
“You aren’t going to find human growth hormone in urine,” Tygart said. “If you want to stop (HGH
use), you have to collect blood. There is no other way to detect it.”
Tygart was one of three experts who addressed commissioners about drug-testing methods, with the information about the differences between urine and blood testing dominating the conversation. No action was taken on the item, which was designed to gather information on testing procedures.
“When an athlete cheats with drugs, it is fraud,” Tygart said.
Not agreeing on drug-testing methods killed the potential mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao this year. Mayweather would only fight Pacquiao if he would be tested through a blood sample, which he refused.
So, Mayweather and Shane Mosley fought in May, with random blood and urine testing conducted. The fact that the tests were random was significant, Tygart said.
Human growth hormone only remains in the blood for 24 to 48 hours, making the uncertainty of when a test will be conducted a valuable resource in preventing its use, Tygart said.
The commission’s drug-testing plan has evolved in the last decade. It initially only tested a handful of fighters per card for drugs of abuse and steroids, but now tests eight to 10 fighters a card.
Additionally, the commission randomly contacts fighters for tests between matches, giving them 24 to 48 hours to be tested.
Las Vegas physician Robert Voy, who was formerly the chief medical officer for the United States Olympic Committee, has spend a significant portion of his career in the performance-enhancing detection industry. He told commissioners that detecting human growth hormone is still a work in progress.
“They have not been able to develop a reliable test four human growth hormone in blood analysis,” Voy said. “So far, it is not effective. It’s unreliable.”
Tygart, however, points to rugby player Terry Newton of England testing positive for human growth hormone in February using a blood test. It was one of few positive tests worldwide.
Tygart said scientists are working on developing another blood test that would detect HGH for 14 to 21 days after usage. He expects the new test to be ready in four months.
One argument against using blood testing is the potential harm it could have on a fighter’s strength. That is one of the reasons Pacquiao is against blood testing. But Voy said only 15 milliliters of blood is required for a sample, which “amounts to practically nothing.”
The current urine testing costs the commission $40 to screen for drugs of abuse and $155 for steroids. Blood testing would be an added expense but worth it, Tygart said.
“You guys deserve better. Your athletes deserve better,” he said.
Source: lasvegassun.com
The drug-testing methods used by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in detecting human growth hormone use by combat-sport fighters is considered inadequate by one expert.
Travis Tygart, the chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, told commissioners Wednesday during a monthly athletic commission meeting that the urinalysis testing fighters are subject to before and after a match will detect several illegal substances — just not human growth hormone.
“You aren’t going to find human growth hormone in urine,” Tygart said. “If you want to stop (HGH use), you have to collect blood. There is no other way to detect it.”“When an athlete cheats with drugs, it is fraud,” Tygart said.
Not agreeing on drug-testing methods killed the potential mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao this year. Mayweather would only fight Pacquiao if he would be tested through a blood sample, which he refused.
So, Mayweather and Shane Mosley fought in May, with random blood and urine testing conducted. The fact that the tests were random was significant, Tygart said.
Human growth hormone only remains in the blood for 24 to 48 hours, making the uncertainty of when a test will be conducted a valuable resource in preventing its use, Tygart said.
The commission’s drug-testing plan has evolved in the last decade. It initially only tested a handful of fighters per card for drugs of abuse and steroids, but now tests eight to 10 fighters a card.
Additionally, the commission randomly contacts fighters for tests between matches, giving them 24 to 48 hours to be tested.
Las Vegas physician Robert Voy, who was formerly the chief medical officer for the United States Olympic Committee, has spend a significant portion of his career in the performance-enhancing detection industry. He told commissioners that detecting human growth hormone is still a work in progress.
“They have not been able to develop a reliable test four human growth hormone in blood analysis,” Voy said. “So far, it is not effective. It’s unreliable.”
Tygart, however, points to rugby player Terry Newton of England testing positive for human growth hormone in February using a blood test. It was one of few positive tests worldwide.
Tygart said scientists are working on developing another blood test that would detect HGH for 14 to 21 days after usage. He expects the new test to be ready in four months.
One argument against using blood testing is the potential harm it could have on a fighter’s strength. That is one of the reasons Pacquiao is against blood testing. But Voy said only 15 milliliters of blood is required for a sample, which “amounts to practically nothing.”
The current urine testing costs the commission $40 to screen for drugs of abuse and $155 for steroids. Blood testing would be an added expense but worth it, Tygart said.
“You guys deserve better. Your athletes deserve better,” he said.
Source: lasvegassun.com
Doctor Says Drawing Random Blood Risks Pre-Bout Hematoma -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
During the failed negotiations for a potential March 13 bout against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao claimed that he did not want to have blood randomly drawn for drug testing within 14 days of a fight.
During Thursday's Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing and teleconference that dealt with steroids
and drug testing for illegal substances, the Filipino super star's assertion received some support.
Former chief ringside physician, Dr. David Watson, argued that a hematomas, infections or other injuries could develop in the arm as a result of the skin being punctured "within three weeks of a fight."
"Dr. Watson has done thousands of weigh-in physicals and done thousands of fights. He's viewed tons of medical records. What Dr. Watson was kind of saying was that on some occasions with fighters, he would notice hematomas on the inside of the elbow where they gave blood," said Keith Kizer, executive director of the NSAC.
"So Dr. Watson was concerned that you could have fighters who -- if you take blood too close to the fight -- you could run the risk of something like that developing in a fighter," said Kizer. "That could cause an effect on their performance, especially when they've had to do fights on late notice, for the infections diseases -- Hepetitus A, Hepititis B, and HIV -- and they had to give blood for that."
Kizer said that another doctor, Robert Voy, formerly of United States Olympic Committee drug testing, "brought up the fact that you can have infections."
"There was a center in Las Vegas that re-used needles for some sort of tests, and people got Hepatitis C from that situation," said Kizer. "So there's a concern that you can infect somebody and that you can infect the arm nick the vein, or jab it in the wrong place. [Dr. Watson] noticed some bruising on the arms within three weeks of the fight. The question is, can you minimize that?"
According to Travis Tygart, the answer is a resounding, "Yes."
The executive chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Tygart was also a part of the conference call.
Tygart's USADA achieved a boxing first by implementing and overseeing the random testing of blood and urine on both Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley during the lead up to their May 1 clash won by Mayweather.
"Maybe he [Watson] was getting at the blackout period. Maybe he was saying that it's too big of a risk from a health and safety standpoint, and that given the need, that the risk is too big. But the risk is small and almost non-existent. The risk is minimal if you have a good policy and practice and experienced blood collectors in place," said Tygart.
"It's less of a risk than walking across the street," said Tygart. "Again, if you have in place well-defined protocols and trained professionals with experience, then it's basically about the same risk as it is getting hit by a car walking across the street when the light says to 'Walk.'"
Mayweather had both blood and urine taken on March 22, April 1, April 13 and then on the night directly after the fight. Mayweather provided urine only on April 3, April 6, April 21 and April 24.
Mosley provided both blood and urine on March 23, March 31, April 12 and directly after the bout on fight night. Mosley provided urine on April 3, April 6, April 21 and April 24.
Recent reports in support of Pacquiao's proposed 14-day window have focused on the fact that USADA's last date for blood drawn was April 13 for Mayweather, and, April 12 for Mosley.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, for example, believes that he knows why USADA ended its random blood testing so far out from the May 1 fight date.
"You notice that they stopped blood testing in the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight about 18 days before. Well, I'm not a doctor, but you have to realize that a fighter uses his arms a lot like a runner uses his legs. You can't take blood too close to the fight. Two or three weeks before the fight he can get a hematoma which can prevent him from either training or fighting," said Arum.
"If it's done further out before the fight, then there's no real problem. But closer to the fight, there's a real problem. For a fighter to lose the last week in training or the week before the fight is a disaster for a fighter," said Arum. "That could happen if he gets a hematoma in the arm that's used for the blood test. USADA, whatever, they might say, must have recognized this, and I believe that that's why they didn't test for blood before 18 days."
But the assertion of Tygart disputes Arum's claim.
"We chose not to test for blood closer to the fight than we did because there was no need to do so. But, of course, if we had some sort of cause or suspicion that meant that we needed to do more blood tests, let's say, five days, or, four days before a fight, then we certainly would have done it," said Tygart.
"And that's why the right to have that option is such an important aspect to having a good program. It's a deterrent for the fighters," said Tygart. "[We were] totally comfortable only having that blood test 18 days before the fight and not needing one more testing day in between."
Tygart believes that the focus on the 18 days is simply a fault-finding mission for the progam's detractors.
"Importantly, the reality is, the people who want to criticize, they were hoping that we were going to blood test the day of the fight or the day before the fight, or two days or four days before the fight," said Tygart.
"And then, they were going to hope and pray that whatever fighter lost, that fighter was going to blame the blood test," said Tygart. "So since that didn't happen -- and that testing didn't need to happen to have an effective program -- they now have to try to complain that the window was too big."
Citing his last defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Erik Morales in March of 2005, the 31-year-old, Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) -- a newly-elected, Philippines congressman -- contends that drawing blood within days of the bout weakens him.
In the fight with Morales, Pacquiao bled profusely from a deep cut above his right eye. Since that loss, however, Pacquiao is 12-0, with eight knockouts -- including stoppages in the 10th, and, third round, respectively, against Morales.
"Look, man that's [not testing for a blackout period] like putting these athletes in a bubble and not letting them leave the house for three weeks. It's like, 'You can't train or you might twist your ankle,'" said Tygart, referring to the periods sanctioned by Watson and requested by Pacquiao. "But there's risks of leaving your house to walk on the sidewalk, and there's risks leaving your house in the morning to go jogging. Getting blood drawn? The risks aren't as bad as anything like that."
Tygart also railed against the NSAC's argument that random drug testing is too costly, saying "You can craft an effective program based on how much money you have," and, "Look for new revenues."
"My simple analysis and real question is, 'How much money do you have?' You have your current money that you're spending on it, you have your current budget -- so that maybe you can move money from other areas -- or, third, you can look for new revenues sources," said Tygart.
"It's obviously very important, and the athletes deserve it," said Tygart. "When you have athletes like Floyd Mayweather coming to us and asking us to provide for a better system, then you're obviously not doing enough."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
During the failed negotiations for a potential March 13 bout against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao claimed that he did not want to have blood randomly drawn for drug testing within 14 days of a fight.
During Thursday's Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing and teleconference that dealt with steroids and drug testing for illegal substances, the Filipino super star's assertion received some support.Former chief ringside physician, Dr. David Watson, argued that a hematomas, infections or other injuries could develop in the arm as a result of the skin being punctured "within three weeks of a fight."
"Dr. Watson has done thousands of weigh-in physicals and done thousands of fights. He's viewed tons of medical records. What Dr. Watson was kind of saying was that on some occasions with fighters, he would notice hematomas on the inside of the elbow where they gave blood," said Keith Kizer, executive director of the NSAC.
"So Dr. Watson was concerned that you could have fighters who -- if you take blood too close to the fight -- you could run the risk of something like that developing in a fighter," said Kizer. "That could cause an effect on their performance, especially when they've had to do fights on late notice, for the infections diseases -- Hepetitus A, Hepititis B, and HIV -- and they had to give blood for that."
Kizer said that another doctor, Robert Voy, formerly of United States Olympic Committee drug testing, "brought up the fact that you can have infections."
"There was a center in Las Vegas that re-used needles for some sort of tests, and people got Hepatitis C from that situation," said Kizer. "So there's a concern that you can infect somebody and that you can infect the arm nick the vein, or jab it in the wrong place. [Dr. Watson] noticed some bruising on the arms within three weeks of the fight. The question is, can you minimize that?"
According to Travis Tygart, the answer is a resounding, "Yes."
The executive chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Tygart was also a part of the conference call.
Tygart's USADA achieved a boxing first by implementing and overseeing the random testing of blood and urine on both Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley during the lead up to their May 1 clash won by Mayweather.
"Maybe he [Watson] was getting at the blackout period. Maybe he was saying that it's too big of a risk from a health and safety standpoint, and that given the need, that the risk is too big. But the risk is small and almost non-existent. The risk is minimal if you have a good policy and practice and experienced blood collectors in place," said Tygart.
"It's less of a risk than walking across the street," said Tygart. "Again, if you have in place well-defined protocols and trained professionals with experience, then it's basically about the same risk as it is getting hit by a car walking across the street when the light says to 'Walk.'"
Mayweather had both blood and urine taken on March 22, April 1, April 13 and then on the night directly after the fight. Mayweather provided urine only on April 3, April 6, April 21 and April 24.
Mosley provided both blood and urine on March 23, March 31, April 12 and directly after the bout on fight night. Mosley provided urine on April 3, April 6, April 21 and April 24.
Recent reports in support of Pacquiao's proposed 14-day window have focused on the fact that USADA's last date for blood drawn was April 13 for Mayweather, and, April 12 for Mosley.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, for example, believes that he knows why USADA ended its random blood testing so far out from the May 1 fight date.
"You notice that they stopped blood testing in the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight about 18 days before. Well, I'm not a doctor, but you have to realize that a fighter uses his arms a lot like a runner uses his legs. You can't take blood too close to the fight. Two or three weeks before the fight he can get a hematoma which can prevent him from either training or fighting," said Arum.
"If it's done further out before the fight, then there's no real problem. But closer to the fight, there's a real problem. For a fighter to lose the last week in training or the week before the fight is a disaster for a fighter," said Arum. "That could happen if he gets a hematoma in the arm that's used for the blood test. USADA, whatever, they might say, must have recognized this, and I believe that that's why they didn't test for blood before 18 days."
But the assertion of Tygart disputes Arum's claim.
"We chose not to test for blood closer to the fight than we did because there was no need to do so. But, of course, if we had some sort of cause or suspicion that meant that we needed to do more blood tests, let's say, five days, or, four days before a fight, then we certainly would have done it," said Tygart.
"And that's why the right to have that option is such an important aspect to having a good program. It's a deterrent for the fighters," said Tygart. "[We were] totally comfortable only having that blood test 18 days before the fight and not needing one more testing day in between."
Tygart believes that the focus on the 18 days is simply a fault-finding mission for the progam's detractors.
"Importantly, the reality is, the people who want to criticize, they were hoping that we were going to blood test the day of the fight or the day before the fight, or two days or four days before the fight," said Tygart.
"And then, they were going to hope and pray that whatever fighter lost, that fighter was going to blame the blood test," said Tygart. "So since that didn't happen -- and that testing didn't need to happen to have an effective program -- they now have to try to complain that the window was too big."
Citing his last defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Erik Morales in March of 2005, the 31-year-old, Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) -- a newly-elected, Philippines congressman -- contends that drawing blood within days of the bout weakens him.
In the fight with Morales, Pacquiao bled profusely from a deep cut above his right eye. Since that loss, however, Pacquiao is 12-0, with eight knockouts -- including stoppages in the 10th, and, third round, respectively, against Morales.
"Look, man that's [not testing for a blackout period] like putting these athletes in a bubble and not letting them leave the house for three weeks. It's like, 'You can't train or you might twist your ankle,'" said Tygart, referring to the periods sanctioned by Watson and requested by Pacquiao. "But there's risks of leaving your house to walk on the sidewalk, and there's risks leaving your house in the morning to go jogging. Getting blood drawn? The risks aren't as bad as anything like that."
Tygart also railed against the NSAC's argument that random drug testing is too costly, saying "You can craft an effective program based on how much money you have," and, "Look for new revenues."
"My simple analysis and real question is, 'How much money do you have?' You have your current money that you're spending on it, you have your current budget -- so that maybe you can move money from other areas -- or, third, you can look for new revenues sources," said Tygart.
"It's obviously very important, and the athletes deserve it," said Tygart. "When you have athletes like Floyd Mayweather coming to us and asking us to provide for a better system, then you're obviously not doing enough."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Urine TKOs blood in Nevada boxing drug testing debate -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
The United States Anti Doping Agency
sent the wrong guy to persuade the Nevada State Athletic Commission that completely random blood testing is a must for the huge Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao super bout.
I listened to over three hours of testimony over a telephone hookup Wednesday presided over by NSAC Chairwoman Pat Lundvall and including the other four governor appointed members of the Silver State's boxing board.
Need to know "background" to all this is that the Nevada interests are still "frosted" that the blood testing arrangements for the May 1 Mayweather-Sugar Shane Mosley bout in Las Vegas were strictly a private, contractual matter btween two Golden Boy promoter fighters and did not involve the state boxing board in any manner or form. It's my understanding that only the always negative results and test dates were casually reported to Nevada.
Can you say let;s go around the NSAC?
The testimony of the two doctors, taken in whole and in part, favored totally random urine testing as the most practical and, more important, most efficient way of deterring Pacman, Mayweather and any other boxer who might seek to use banned substances in connection with a boxing match.
Try as he might, and he was certainly quite glib, Tygart did not seem to persuade the commissioners that BOTH blood and urine random test must be put into effect for what Tygart kept repeating as "the protection for clean athletes."
If it was a battle between blood versus urine, I'd say urine was the winner but we'll have to see what the budget strained boxing board does next.
Just thinking out loud, but the commission's less than overwhelming response to highly critical Tygart might be a reason for the Pacquiao side to push even harder for a Nov. 13 but, conversely, cause the Mayweather side to seek to delay the inevitable bout into next year.
A fourth speaker was New Jersey boxing lawyer Patrick English who put in what came off as a suggestion that Nevada should enlist UCLA's highly respected Olympic drug expert, Dr. Donald Caitlin, to reform and/or expand its drug testing protocol. English did point out that that some experts are scientifcally uncomfortable because the USADA medical records have not been "published or peer reviewed."
Certainly, inserting Dr. Caitlin into the Big Fight mix is a solid idea. Unlike Tygart, he doesn't come off as an advocate for Mayweather and an enemy of Pacquiao. He would be regarded as properly neutral and impartial as to both boxers.
The banned susbtances most often mentioned were HGH and EPO.
Voy, former Chief Medical Office of the USOC, said current blood testing as to HGH is "ureliable and impractical."
He also said, "HGH is out there and there's not much we can do about it."
As far as EPO testing, Voy said, "I'm of the opinion that EPO is not a performance enhancer in boxing or that it gives you more endurace although that is the perception."
Regarding urine testing, Voy said it should be random and "closer to the event, the better."
Voy also said that while tiny amounts of blood are drawn for testing "it can be dangerous."
That was theme Dr. Watson chimed in on, saying, "I believe that urine is the best substance to test. I agree with Dr. Voy that urine (random testing) is what we should require and that blood is not necessary.
"I agree with Dr. Voy that there are theoretical and real risks to blood testing one of which is a (boxer getting) a hematoma on the elbow or a clot from missing a vein. There are also HIV and Hepatitis C risks."
Dr. Watson said blood testing should be curtailed "within three to four weeks before (a fight) so that the hemotoma risk does not put a fighter at a disadvantage."
Dr. Watson even patted himself and the commission on their collective backs, saying, "We're doing a great job."
Tygart could not agree less even to the point of some verbal sparring with Lundvall.
She asked Tygart if blood testing is "the gold standard for everything."
"You have to collect both," an exasperated Tygart said.
Tygart defended his agency's not taking any blood from either Mayweather or opponent Shane Mosley after they had prefight tests 17 and 18 days before they May 1 bout. He said the boxers would be afraid to cheat because they know USADA could come knocking with their needles at any given time.
Tygart took NSAC to task for expression concerns about blood testing expenses although this a climate where Gov. Jim Gibbons has been talking about closing down other state regulatory boards.
He then made a financial suggestion which won't play well in the executive casino offices or with boxing promoters, saying taxes from casino revenues and PPV TV boxing could fund the testing completely.
"You take one half of one percent of the PPV fees or some of the gaming revenues," Tygart said.
Tygart made it clear, as he has in the past, that he thinks Nevada's testing regimen is a joke.
"You can do a lot better for the clean athletes. No disrespect, frankly what you do (now) is inadequate. You guys deserve better, you can do better.
"It's all about protecting the public, stopping the sportying fraud where athletes cheat to win and also protecting the health and safety of the athletes."
Although it was noted that blood testing has caught merely one HGH cheater (a British rugby player) in eight years, Tygart said "in the next few months" a reliable blood test will be available which can nab HGH uses 14 to 21 days after usage.
Tygart made the specious argument that some athletes prefer blood tests to giving urine.
"Blood can be quicker and you don't have to drop your pants," Tygart said.
His mantra was that only blood and urine, completely random testing will effectively police cheaters.
"I think you have to have both to have an effective program."
Tygart likes to shoot flaming arrows into the Nevada. Then he wonders why they circle their wagon train.
Tygart mentioned he could have sent the WADA and USADA chief scientist before the boxing board and would be glad to present those officials in the future.
Based on what I heard, the USADA's mistake was sending this prosecutor in the first place.
Nevada offered up two doctors and USADA offered its legal beagle-PR chief.
Now that's a mismatch.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
The United States Anti Doping Agency
sent the wrong guy to persuade the Nevada State Athletic Commission that completely random blood testing is a must for the huge Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao super bout.I listened to over three hours of testimony over a telephone hookup Wednesday presided over by NSAC Chairwoman Pat Lundvall and including the other four governor appointed members of the Silver State's boxing board.Travis Tygart, lawyer and publicity flack for the USADA, seemed to me to be a loser of a "split decision" to two speakers who preceded him, longtime Olympic boxing physician and Las Vegas resident Dr. Robert Voy and NSAC physician David Watson.
Need to know "background" to all this is that the Nevada interests are still "frosted" that the blood testing arrangements for the May 1 Mayweather-Sugar Shane Mosley bout in Las Vegas were strictly a private, contractual matter btween two Golden Boy promoter fighters and did not involve the state boxing board in any manner or form. It's my understanding that only the always negative results and test dates were casually reported to Nevada.
Can you say let;s go around the NSAC?
The testimony of the two doctors, taken in whole and in part, favored totally random urine testing as the most practical and, more important, most efficient way of deterring Pacman, Mayweather and any other boxer who might seek to use banned substances in connection with a boxing match.
Try as he might, and he was certainly quite glib, Tygart did not seem to persuade the commissioners that BOTH blood and urine random test must be put into effect for what Tygart kept repeating as "the protection for clean athletes."
If it was a battle between blood versus urine, I'd say urine was the winner but we'll have to see what the budget strained boxing board does next.
Just thinking out loud, but the commission's less than overwhelming response to highly critical Tygart might be a reason for the Pacquiao side to push even harder for a Nov. 13 but, conversely, cause the Mayweather side to seek to delay the inevitable bout into next year.
A fourth speaker was New Jersey boxing lawyer Patrick English who put in what came off as a suggestion that Nevada should enlist UCLA's highly respected Olympic drug expert, Dr. Donald Caitlin, to reform and/or expand its drug testing protocol. English did point out that that some experts are scientifcally uncomfortable because the USADA medical records have not been "published or peer reviewed."
Certainly, inserting Dr. Caitlin into the Big Fight mix is a solid idea. Unlike Tygart, he doesn't come off as an advocate for Mayweather and an enemy of Pacquiao. He would be regarded as properly neutral and impartial as to both boxers.
The banned susbtances most often mentioned were HGH and EPO.
Voy, former Chief Medical Office of the USOC, said current blood testing as to HGH is "ureliable and impractical."
He also said, "HGH is out there and there's not much we can do about it."
As far as EPO testing, Voy said, "I'm of the opinion that EPO is not a performance enhancer in boxing or that it gives you more endurace although that is the perception."
Regarding urine testing, Voy said it should be random and "closer to the event, the better."
Voy also said that while tiny amounts of blood are drawn for testing "it can be dangerous."
That was theme Dr. Watson chimed in on, saying, "I believe that urine is the best substance to test. I agree with Dr. Voy that urine (random testing) is what we should require and that blood is not necessary.
"I agree with Dr. Voy that there are theoretical and real risks to blood testing one of which is a (boxer getting) a hematoma on the elbow or a clot from missing a vein. There are also HIV and Hepatitis C risks."
Dr. Watson said blood testing should be curtailed "within three to four weeks before (a fight) so that the hemotoma risk does not put a fighter at a disadvantage."
Dr. Watson even patted himself and the commission on their collective backs, saying, "We're doing a great job."
Tygart could not agree less even to the point of some verbal sparring with Lundvall.
She asked Tygart if blood testing is "the gold standard for everything."
"You have to collect both," an exasperated Tygart said.
Tygart defended his agency's not taking any blood from either Mayweather or opponent Shane Mosley after they had prefight tests 17 and 18 days before they May 1 bout. He said the boxers would be afraid to cheat because they know USADA could come knocking with their needles at any given time.
Tygart took NSAC to task for expression concerns about blood testing expenses although this a climate where Gov. Jim Gibbons has been talking about closing down other state regulatory boards.
He then made a financial suggestion which won't play well in the executive casino offices or with boxing promoters, saying taxes from casino revenues and PPV TV boxing could fund the testing completely.
"You take one half of one percent of the PPV fees or some of the gaming revenues," Tygart said.
Tygart made it clear, as he has in the past, that he thinks Nevada's testing regimen is a joke.
"You can do a lot better for the clean athletes. No disrespect, frankly what you do (now) is inadequate. You guys deserve better, you can do better.
"It's all about protecting the public, stopping the sportying fraud where athletes cheat to win and also protecting the health and safety of the athletes."
Although it was noted that blood testing has caught merely one HGH cheater (a British rugby player) in eight years, Tygart said "in the next few months" a reliable blood test will be available which can nab HGH uses 14 to 21 days after usage.
Tygart made the specious argument that some athletes prefer blood tests to giving urine.
"Blood can be quicker and you don't have to drop your pants," Tygart said.
His mantra was that only blood and urine, completely random testing will effectively police cheaters.
"I think you have to have both to have an effective program."
Tygart likes to shoot flaming arrows into the Nevada. Then he wonders why they circle their wagon train.
Tygart mentioned he could have sent the WADA and USADA chief scientist before the boxing board and would be glad to present those officials in the future.
Based on what I heard, the USADA's mistake was sending this prosecutor in the first place.
Nevada offered up two doctors and USADA offered its legal beagle-PR chief.
Now that's a mismatch.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)