The main problem in professional boxing is performance-enhancing drugs. It would be a regrettable accusation in any case, but when you consider how many other problems there are within this sport, it is even worse that this one comfortably tops the list.
Failed tests and doping investigations are at an all-time high. And while boxing certainly benefits from having stricter testing measures in place, which is paramount when it comes to fighter safety, it is being worn down by scandal and negative press.
Reports on May 1 suggested that Ryan Garcia’s sensational victory over Devin Haney could now be called into question following allegations that he failed a doping test for the PED ostarine.
So far, those reports remain unconfirmed. And Garcia himself has taken to social media to deny the claims and call them “fake news.”
But these are far from the first such stories to affect the sport. In August 2023, heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte was pulled from a rematch with Anthony Joshua after submitting a positive pre-fight test (his third).
How many more low blows can boxing take?
The consequences of a positive test are complicated and riddled with inconsistencies. To help clarify the nuances, we put together a guide on what exactly happens after a boxer tests positive.
What is a performance enhancing drug?
Well, first things first: what actually constitutes a performance-enhancing drug (PED)?
In short, PEDs are substances used to unnaturally increase strength, endurance, and athletic performance.
Examples of this would be anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), and erythropoietin. There are almost 200 different varieties and new ones are introduced periodically.
Why would a professional boxer use PEDs?
Performance-enhancing drugs allow the athlete to work harder and recover faster during training.
There’s an old axiom that says a fight is won in the gym. That being the case, if an inpidual can work harder and recover faster than his opponent, then he has a significant advantage in the fight.
Additionally, if a fighter is gaining weight and is having difficulty adding the required weight, then a substance like HGH can increase testosterone levels and help add muscle.
How are PEDs taken?
It is common for PEDs to be injected, but users can take them orally and apply gels and creams. The latter is the safer method of the two.
Steroids are usually taken in cycles to prevent users from developing tolerance and allow testosterone levels to increase over time.
They can’t take it away! #and yet pic.twitter.com/x4Eqky3tV8
—Alycia Baumgardner (@alyciambaum) August 17, 2023
Are PEDs dangerous?
The simple answer is yes.
Performance-enhancing drugs cause liver disease and are known to negatively affect the kidneys, testicles, ovaries, and heart. Prolonged use can cause serious health problems and even death.
Other side effects include paranoia, depression, and angry outbursts. Skin problems (acne or large pimples) are a visible sign of steroid use.
What is a masking agent?
If you’ve heard of PEDs in sports, you’ve probably heard the term “masking agent.” So what exactly are masking agents?
In the simplest terms, a masking agent is a substance used to interfere with the accuracy of tests.
The most common masking agent is diuretics, which increase urination and help eliminate other drugs from the system faster than would be natural.
Masking agents also help the athlete lose weight. A diuretic like furosemide alters the sodium balance in the kidneys, which helps the body retain water.
All of these substances are prohibited by anti-drug agencies.
Punishments after a positive test for PED
In the United Kingdom, the UKAD has a standard four-year ban for athletes who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Each case is treated separately and investigations are common when a fighter tests positive. On rare occasions, a fighter may clear his name when contamination is shown in testing, or may have inadvertently ingested a banned substance contained in a supplement. The latter is less respected as a defense because the athlete is responsible for what he consumes.
The fact that boxing has no regulatory body means that case decisions are rarely consistent. In the United States, bans are issued by state commissions, of which there are dozens.
In 2019, heavyweight Jarrell Miller tested positive for three banned substances. The infraction cost Miller a shot against then-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and a dark cloud hung over the sport. Due to the fact that he did not have a full New York license, Miller would receive a bogus six-month suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) and was able to sign with Top Rank eight months later.
Miller was pulled from his first outing with that promoter after testing positive again. The Nevada State Athletic Commission issued a two-year ban.
– Dillian Whyte (@DillianWhyte) August 5, 2023
Is a world champion stripped of his title if he tests positive for banned substances?
Boxing has four sanctioning organizations: IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO. Then there is also The Ring Magazine championship. They have all stripped a world champion for PED use in the past, but there is still inconsistency.
In 2017, Luis Nery of Mexico, who will imminently fight Naoya Inoue on May 6, failed a test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) before facing then-WBC and Ring Magazine bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka .
The substance in question was zilpaterol, which is used to increase muscle growth. Nery denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the positive test was the result of eating Mexican beef (substances such as zilpaterol and clenbuteral are used in Mexican livestock farming to increase the size of livestock).
The test results were revealed after Nery violently defeated Yamanaka in the fourth round. The WBC accepted Nery’s explanation and he kept his title. The Ring took a different view and laid him bare.
