Part of the problem with the cost is that each state is trying to do it on their own, and all of the people don’t live where they are fighting, so it’s harder to do testing outside of at the fights.

How is Nevada supposed to randomly test Brock in MInnesota? BJ in HI? GSP in canadia? Forget the cost of the test, just moving the people and substances will cost money.

WADA isn’t perfect, but the fact that they are a world wide organization and they already have protocols, staff, and labs in place all over the world might make them a good option to do better testing, and reduce the costs associated with those tests.

My hope is that the AC’s (maybe the ABC?) or some other group can form and help get everyone on the same page to form a national or international testing system. I also hope that the UFC gets on board organizing or pushing for this, but I really don’t see them doing that until they finish getting the sport regulated everywhere.

This is a very good article – and proof that the UFC is very wise for not involving itself in drug-testing, at least domestically.

is somewhat misleading.

Q: If I knew 10 minutes before test, could I mask it?

A: “Yep. If you had some urine and a Whizzinator, 10 minutes before, you could mask it. If you had a catheter, which is not that tough to do, you could do it.”

Whizzinator is the fake penis that you can fill with (presumably someone else’s) clean urine. I’m going to guess that the catheter is meant to drain the bladder of your dirty urine and fill it with someone else’s clean urine.

If I recall correctly, USADA requires athletes to provide them with a one-hour window each day where the athlete is subject to random testing. The idea seems to be that you can’t control where an athlete is at 24 hours a day, so the one-hour window is a compromise there. I don’t see why an athlete using PEDs can’t just have a Whizzinator on hand for that hour each day, since you can schedule training away from that hour where you have a fake penis on your body.

Also, several of the BALCO athletes never failed a USADA test, which is worth keeping in mind when we talk about wanting clean sports. Current testing is inadequate, but the BALCO case showed that users can often be a few steps ahead of the testing… at least until a grand jury comes knocking.

I think one of the most useful parts of the article is pointing out the PEDs get used for a lot more than just bulking. Unfortunately, many fans think “juicing” is just about getting bigger, when it’s about a whole lot more than that. We need to get away from this mindset of being able to “look at the guy” and know he’s using PEDs.

Barnett the #2 HW, I am still laughing.

I agree that fight sports especially need to ramp up their drug testing, though I think steroids is a secondary issue in sports generally. Ultimately, so long as athletes are pushed to test the limits of the human body (and so long as they bear most of the moral culpability for any wrongdoing in a sport), they will find ways around testing, which is dangerous. Sportscasters are incredibly moralistic when it comes to condemning athletes for this and that, but nobody bats an eyelash at the fact that every linebacker on a football field is 300+.

Regarding the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, you can’t really blame Pacquiao for anything — Mayweather, as his opponent, has no right to demand any kind of testing. Or rather, he has the right to demand whatever he wants, but Pacquiao responded appropriately — this is all alpha male stuff.

I’d like to ask a couple things from someone who knows more about this subject than me:

For the vast majority of boxers and mixed martial artists who are making under $200,000 a year, how many of them can actually afford the sort of PEDs that most state athletic commission don’t or can’t do tests for with urinalysis? I’m not talking about guys like Shane Moseley who can afford any drug they want, I’m talking about fighters who make what Hermes Franca was making when he tested positive, or more often much less than that.

Also, with the the cheaper drugs, can timing your cycling still avoid most positives if you’re not surprised tested like Josh Barnett was? I’m asking because I legit don’t know.

Make people who fail tests have to pay additional sums of money in order to get relicensed and be subject to more critical testing. Fees may have to go up across the board but I’d structure it in such a way that the cheaters pay more.

Good article though, definitely worth dicussion

I suggest you read this thread:

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&thread=1585843

It raises a few interesting points, particularly about the USADA’s motives (profit) and Tygart in particular having a vested interest in the success of Golden Boy promotions. (Though I will admit it does devolve into tinfoil hat territory on occasion).

There is also a great counterpoint article here:

http://theboxingtruth.com/article.php?id=1441

Steroids use should be treated as a crime. Period!
But, the debate about how to implement a safe and foolproof way should be started, now, by scientists and doctors, and not just by some paranoid individuals. Also, a clause should be included in every fight contract that in the event NSAC screws up the procedure and hurt a fighter’s health, that a form of compensation be awarded the fighter, or the fighter be given the time and opportunity to heal and his health reinstated back to where before the incident happened.

Complicated, right? Yes, it is. That is why, a measure should be debated before being passed into law, before it can be adopted by boxing’s governing body.

This is why Mayweather’s blood testing idea is exposed as a charade because it lacks the details especially where USADA takes full responsibility for a fighter’s well-being in the course of implementing a measure that claims to protect atheletes’ well-being.

Who will protect fighters from WADA’s incompetence?

The question is, if the fight is governed by NSAC and blood testing is done by a third party, the USADA, then, who is going to be held accountable once USADA nurse representative miss the vein and have to do another intrusion, miss the vein again, and have to do another intrusion, leaving the fighter with a sore arm affecting his performance?

Worse, what if the nurse hits a nerve? And that’s not to mention, how could they ensure a sterile place to draw the blood. How do you isolate a locker room of contaminants and other infectious hazards?

If the nurse screws up, will NSAC be be held accountable for USADA’s incompetence? And, what are the ramnifications if ever such errors occur that will result in a fighter’s injury and eventual defeat? Floyd Mayweather Jnr? The author of this blood testing measure?

See, that is why NSAC refuses to adopt such measures because it just doesn’t work with boxers!

That is why Floyd’s blood testing scheme is stupid and absurd!

And you don’t find Mayweather making his own rules and imposing it on Pacquiao odd? First, the question should be, who is Floyd Mayweather to create his own rules and impose it on Pacquiao?

Second, assuming that Pacquiao accede to Floyd’s demand, what’s the difference between taking the blood test a day before the fight and right after the fight in the locker room?

Protecting fighters’ interest falls under the jurisdiction of NSAC, so if Mayweather thinks that NSAC’s procedure isn’t enough to protect his interest as a fighter, then he should submit his remonstrations to NSAC and if they decide to take Pacquiao’s blood on the day of the fight or between rounds, then by all means.

What is truly odd is Mayweather using Xylocaine to numb his brittle hand thus gaining unfair advantage over his opponents. Talking about level playing field.

Weight was a contractual matter between two fighters whereas, blood testing is a procedure required by the boxing governing body which is NSAC.

Re million/pound overweight, that clause is necessary given Floyd’s penchant for taking advantage of his opponents just like what he did to Marquez when he changed the contract an hour before weigh-in to allow him to weigh 2 pounds more than the contracted weight.

As to your question, “Why are all of those contractual matters between two fighters" while drug testing is somehow untouchable?”, well, I am not the law, NSAC is, so please read their bylaws or call them. And hey, get back to me when you get answers.

How can Pacquiao enter into a onerous contract – a demand from Mayweather that goes against NSAC’s procedure? NSAC doesn’t allow random blood testing because it isn’t foolproof and unsafe(read my previous posts).

On the other hand, USADA is an entity put into place for olympic athletes and not professional boxers and therefore has no jurisdiction over the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

The validity of your argument is moot and academic since the talk is over now and Pacquiao has moved on to fight Clottey. Nevertheless, Pacquiao has made known his stance regarding Floyd’s unprecedented demands and that is, he will fight Mayweather as long everything is played under the rule of law and that is, fight under the auspices of NSAC.

If NSAC requires that both fighters be subjected to random blood testing even on fight day, Pacquiao will accede to it without reservation. As long as that’s what is mandated by NSAC.

For that to happen, Floyd must submit his remonstrations to NSAC or lobby Congress to change the law specifically for this fight. Until that happens, he will only appear to throw a monkey wrench into the negotiations and expose him for the coward that he is.

Again, let’s make clear about it. Pacquiao is willing to undergo any tests as long as it is sponsored by NSAC.

Pacquiao’s camp tried to appease Mayweather by agreeing to a blood test 25 days before the fight. It turned out to be a bad decision. Mayweather insisted on that 14 day window just because his ex-con father said so.

Let me ask you. What is the difference between Pacquiao being tested a day before the fight, and blood testing him after the fight right inside his locker room?

Ok, fine, let’s throw this rule of law argument outside the window.

So, Mayweather is making this unprecedented demands for Pacquiao to take the blood test.

Fine, but why? Because according to his father, convicted of felony drug offense, says so? Was Pacquiao tested positive for steroids and other substances banned by the law? Is Pacquiao confessed to using drugs to enhance his performance? The answers to both questions is a resounding, NO. So, how do you validate Mayweather’s demands?

How do you debate with a person whose argument is premised on emotions and gut feeling?