By Superstar Billy Graham
We have heard from both sides, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA). The NSAC recently had their forum along with USADA’s Travis Tygart. The NSAC had their physicians who were involved in the sport of boxing for years attend this forum. Dr David Watson testified blood testing can be done with the 3 weeks before the fight, any closer to the fight would risk hematomas (bruising), infection,or other injuries. Haven’t some of you ever noticed after giving blood sometimes you will see a slight bruise in and around the area where they drew blood? The Superstar supports all test that will ensure the safety of the athlete and also keep the integrity of the sport clean of cheaters.
However, we must make sure these test could not produce more harm to the participants more than what it’s worth. Blood testing is the most invasive of all test, because it involves removing blood by inserting a needle to draw blood and more importantly through a vein. You can’t just simply inject the needle anywhere and draw blood. You must hit a vein to draw blood. Another draw back with blood testing, is the possibility of infection. It can occur when the area of the blood drawn has not sufficiently healed. In the sport of boxing, your arms and hands are your weapons, and that happens to be area where they draw blood. So the possibility of an infection or injury can occur even during their sparring session. But according to Dr Watson, blood testing is still a viable option if done 3 weeks before the fight. However, Manny Pacquiao is now willing to the 14 day blood testing, which was the deal breaker from the first original negotiation of the proposed Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao fight.
After that fight fell through, Floyd Mayweather took on Shane Mosley for which both agreed to do Olympic Style random blood testing. We all assumed or led to believe the blood testing would be up to the fight, which it didn’t happen. The blood testing ended 18 days before the fight and then another blood test right after the fight. People were asking why they didn’t go up to or at least a day before the fight? USADA’s Travis Tygart said the initial blood tests shown both boxers were clean and they didn’t need any further blood test. The rest of the random test would be done through urine testing. However, Travis Tygart did mention if some anomaly suddenly appeared in one of the blood test, they would get another sample. But the test didn’t uncover anything that could be questionable so they decided to end the blood test.
The Superstar finds it very strange. We all thought the reason why they would do blood testing up to a day before the fight is too catch or prevent anyone from cheating up until the fight. Those were the goods that were being sold to the boxing fans. But now The Superstar believes the true reason why they ended the blood testing 18 days before the fight, is they knew all along anytime you blood test closer to the fight it increases the possibility the fighter can get injured or risk of an infection do to multiple blood testing past 18 days before the fight. Also The Superstar began to think why USADA has not made any statements regarding what kind of injury can occur when being blood tested. There has to be pros and cons in blood testing.Travis Tygart knew the type of injuries can occur due to blood testing. Tygart knew there is a possibility infection can occur from blood testing, minute it may be.
But he hasn’t made an attempt to reveal those facts. It is because it can be the deal breaker. No fighter wants to risk themselves of infection or injuries do to blood testing. Tygart purposely left those facts out because he has goods that need to be sold. If Travis Tygart wants to protect the clean fighter, then he must disclose all the information that could pose a risk of injury due to blood testing. It is like when you get a prescription medicine, the pharmacist would tell you the side effects. Tygart needs to do the same with blood testing, disclose all the facts, pros and cons. Travis Tygart mentions all other benefits of blood testing but neglects the fact that it hasn’t caught anybody. Tygart doesn’t mention the fact that most of the steroid users that were caught, were caught by urine testing. Tygart needs to show hard data and facts those who were caught using steroid, PEDs, EPOs and HGH came from blood testing. You can’t argue with numbers. But he does not have any, even with all the thousands and thousands of tests they have done.
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