MMA Should Require Blood Tests To Fight Steroids Stigma After Pacquiao-Mayweather Negotiations Breakdown
Photo by Josh Hedges. Copyright Zuffa, LLC
The breakdown in negotiations between boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. over Pacquiao’s apparent resistance to submit to an Olympic-style blood test has presented MMA with a golden opportunity to further differentiate itself from the often frustrating sport of boxing.
UFC President Dana White never misses an opportunity to point out his frustrations with boxing, being a former boxing manager himself. He touts how his management of the UFC has transcended boxing’s chaotic system which often leads to disappointing match-ups, padded records, and confusing rankings.
But, performance enhancing drugs is an area where boxing beats MMA, at least in numbers of fighters who test positive in a urinalysis given by state athletic commissions. Most concerning is the number of fighters at the top of the sport who’ve tested positive, including UFC Hall of Famers Royce Gracie (14-3-3) and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (26-12-2).
Gracie tested positive after defeating “Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba (22-13-1) at K-1 HERO’s Dynamite!! USA in June 2007 and Shamrock tested positive after defeating Ross Clifton (6-10) at War Gods in February 2009.
And, at this point I’d like to emphasize that both Gracie and Shamrock deny using performance enhancing drugs. In fact, I’d like to make a blanket statement that nearly every fighter who tests positive denies use.
The UFC even presented a lightweight title fight between Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked lightweight “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (33-4-1) and Hermes Franca (18-6) at UFC 73 in July 2007 after which both fighters tested positive. (Franca actually admits using banned substances.)
The UFC is just the most prominent and active promotion; and, to White’s credit, under his leadership the UFC has worked with U.S. states not sanctioning MMA to put in place mandates on testing and the UFC implements its own tests when promoting events not within a sanctioning framework that mandates tests.
MMA’s problem with performance enhancing substances extends outside of the UFC. The biggest heavyweight fight of 2009 between Fighters.com Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) and eighth-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (20-5) at Affliction Trilogy in August was cancelled when Barnett tested positive for banned substances before the fight. It was the former UFC champion’s second positive test during his career.
Now, think of all the boxing champions who’ve failed a urinalysis. Coming up a bit short?
I’m not naive. Perhaps boxers are just more adept at techniques that obscure their use from a urinalysis; and, a blood test is beatable too.
But, a blood test administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency or a subsidiary, like the United States Anti-Doping Agency that Mayweather is requiring before he’ll fight Pacquiao, is the best contemporary sport has to detect banned substances.
And, blood tests can determine use of human growth hormone (HGH) in particular, which Mayweather is suspicious of Pacquiao using.
So, why shouldn’t the greatest athletic endeavor also be the cleanest? It should, I think. In fact, MMA deserves the strictest standards to match the prestige of the sport.
And, the Pacquiao-Mayweather debate has created a golden opportunity for White to step up to a podium and announce that the UFC will implement Olympic-style blood testing, eating the prohibitive expense to ensure the pinnacle of MMA is willing to go farther than boxing and ensure the integrity and honor of the sport. Then, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker should match White and the UFC.
It would be the first major professional sport to go that far. That would cement MMA’s growing legitimacy in the West and give MMA the air of prestige it deserves. And, probably more importantly to White and Coker, it would draw attention from frustrated combat sports fans watching the Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations break down over a request that should be acceptable. The spotlight on drugs in sport is searching for a hero, and MMA fighters should be the heroes.
- loading... subscribers
-
Strikeforce’s Coker: “Affliction Was Getting Out of the Business a Month Ago.”
Posted: July 30, 2009Comments: 0 -
Strikeforce in Nashville Set for April 17
Posted: March 12, 2010Comments: 1
quotes promoter Bob Arum.
“We appeased Mayweather by agreeing to a urine analysis at any time, and blood testing before the press conference and after the fight. Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken, and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and, to me, just signaled that he didn’t want the fight.”
pac has no problem with testing, not before the fight, what difference does it make if u can test right after the fight..?
Travis Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said a blood test can allow testers to detect use of energy-boosting synthetic EPO, human growth hormone and “a number of potent performance-enhancers not detectable in urine. . . . With a [30-day] window like that, you could dope to the gills and get away with it.”Pac is scared of needles? That is what Arum said and yet he has many tatoos .Mayweather, is willing to take the test, and if Manny doesn’t have anything to hide, he is only going to be raising suspicion by not agreeing.
The reason mayweather wants random drug testing right up until before the fight is he suspects that pac-man binge’s on PED’s and then wash out a week before the fight so he can test clean. Kind of like how a kid on probation gets drunk and high until a week before there court date and then clean out. Im not a doctor and i dont know how long PED’s stay in your system but this sounds like a pretty valid reason.
I said it back in 2008. I boxed for 8 years amatuer only to stop because of chonic asthma. Some fighters I know ‘use’ roids. Why, because I used them myself back then. Urine test are a fricken joke!!! You can pass a urine test by taking a liitle bleach and water! they dont test for chlorine! Pac, Mosely, Tyson, Golden Boy, Holyfield and Lenox and many many of the Europe fighters use steroids. If watch how all these fighter decline when they do. Its like night and day! Pac is definitely scared of being exposed. Come one now. Some Phillipino freak of nature. Phillipino man. Shiiit. I think not. They should have been using olypic style testing in boxing. It just generates so much money for so many shady systems that you will probably never see it. Just more and more knock out artist! Scared of needles with all those tatooes…..nigga please!!!!!
manny probably has taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
how much blood is taken for these kinds of tests? isn’t just a couple of ounces? Both fighters should agree to the stringent tests and rumble on march 13.
olympic style drug testing is not done right before the event. otherwise, host countries can rig the event by getting the random test conducted on opponents b4 their event and to harass other countries’ atlethes. if i will race in 100m event i would surely feel bad to have been prick days b4 the race.
Manny even said that he didn’t even know what steroids are. Floyd is just afraid of Pacquiao, this is a kind of psychological tactic he’s doing. Olympic style can be taken ANYTIME that’s why it’s random resting and Arum and Roach won’t let PACMAN go in the ring psychology unready.
TO ALL OF PACMAN HATERS : U GUYS ARE IDIOTS its NOT STEROIDS its alex ariza and TERI TOM … the COnditioning Coach and NUTRITIONIST .. TRY TO READ THE BOOK BY TERI TOM
MARTIAL ARTS NUTRITION .. U GUYS ARE MORON .. for beleiving the Mayweathers
manny is not against blood testing ..but mayweather want mannys blood tested before the weigh in thats bullsh*T.. .. since when do you see an olympic testing done in boxing history…this is unheard of ..
CHAD FOOL !! i Guess you still have some roids on your veins .. b4 you run ur mouth like the mayweathers .. go to teritom.com manny is not on steroids … and be enlighten.. HAHAHA
whats ur proof??
@BoxingFan
It’s blood loss he’s concerned about, not needles. I think the Mayweather camp is trying to get underneath Manny’s skin, so he’s distracted. I can understand Manny not wanting his blood taken out on the night of the fight, or a day or 2 before it. In a sport like boxing, and a fight like this, you want to be 100%. In most sports, a little blood loss before the game wouldn’t be a big deal. If they take Manny’s blood on fight night, or close to it, it could effect his state of mind, and his body function. With Floyd hiring an outside company to do these tests, they could easily change Manny’s results behind the scenes, or test him an unnecessary amount of times. Even if this company has a good reputation, it only takes 1 corrupt or greedy person to do something like that. Hopefully something will be worked out, because a lot of us want to see this fight. As for Manny, he be given a blood test by a neutral company. Even if this fight doesn’t happen, with so many people questioning him now, Manny needs to prove that he’s the real deal.
Pacquiao will win this fight if the Mayweathers let it happen. Money is scared. He should be. They are basically saying that Manny looks way too strong to not be doping and they don’t think they can compete with him at this point — therefore he must be doping. They’ve basically admitted they don’t think Floyd can with this fight. 3 tests including after the fight is plenty. Anything that can be washed out of the body in a week is not that potent.
@Chad fool
So what do you think he is on? Something that can’t be detected after a week and is so powerful it gives him superhuman strength? What’s with the racist vibe bud? Who cares where he is from. He is dominating and has always tested clean. His sparring partners for the Cotto fight said they’ve never seen anyone train the way these guys train Pacquio.
ten times pacquiao came out clean … and he’s also willing to have his blood taken not before the fight.. and also said after the fight!! they can test him… so what’s the big deal .mayweather is just a coward and trying to look for a reason not to fight.come on after 40 fights , how come your looking for so many reasons now.. big mouth!!!
If I were Manny, I will not take the fight, screw all of them. I got all the money I need and beaten all possible greats out there. I will let this boxer starve till IRS will get him in the end. He is most likely running out of money or will end up in jail the way he runs his lifestyle. As for Pacman he’ll be enjoying life in the Philippine Islands It’s beautiful there.
Just listen to Ruggedman that’ll tell the IQ of blubbering floyyd. It’s so funny listening to it and at the same time you’ll feel sorry for this sorry ass mother……. he was just ranting and raving. Rugged hit it dead on when he asked floyyd when is he going to fight someone his size or someone that can contend with him– he started crying. Also who did he fight for his 40 and 0 few fighter have done that also but that’s not to say they were great just like foolyyd yes fool-loyyd. All your fight was carefully picked god knows if you fought someone with crediblity you might loose. what he said about Man yes Man for Manny tha this is the fight that Manny knows he can’t win, I think he’s finally realizing that he’s actually talking about himself. looooser.
there you go I huge texan got it right amongst all of you dickbones. Mayweathers are actually saying they are not strong or good enough to beat this guy. If am so good and I have a perfect record we are the same weight (but still looks bigger because fool-loyyd has a bigger bones) I will fight because I just a better skilled fighter but no fool-loyyd makes a lot of kakameme stories.. screw them Manny take another fight and retire you will be the books as one of the Greats if not the Greatest and fool-loyd will go down as the greatest undefeated coward. He should be fighting that undeafeated Filipina boxer but then again she too might on PED right fool-loyd.
@KUPAL
Learn how to spell and use the computer properly! You sound retarded and only add to the meat head stigma behind any brutal sport! Actually, let me take back my comment about retarded, you are truly an insult to retards.
@KUPAL
Kupal should be considered a straight shit for brains no wit dickhead who obviously wants to suck Manny Pacquiao’s nuts! Steroids are for morons who cannot compete at a “real” level! Take the test and shut everyone up; otherwise shut your pie hole!
f Mayweather bullys you around? Would you let him? We know Mayweather needs the money from this fight, the reason he came back from his 1 1/2 year-retirement. The MAyweathers has been trying to spread rumors about him using Human growth hormone for a while now. Well, Manny agreed to urine tests and blood tests 5 days, 30 days before the fight as well as a blood tests after the fight. For Pacquaio, would you really trust Mayweather if he insist that Pacquiao needs blood tests before the fight? What if he has friend sto contaminate the blood tests? WOuld you take that risks 24 hours before the fight? And Is Mayweather the Commissioner of boxing to be demanding like this? Mayweather’s EGO IS ON THE LINE and Manny is NOT let him get the upperhand by being bullied!! It’s all about psychology..
I don’t know much about the science behind these drugs. If it’s like cocaine or morphine that you have to take it just before the fight for energy or analgesia then the blood draw right after the fight will be still fine for the test. If it’s action is for body buildup like steroids then the blood draw one month before the fight should be also fine (I think so)… So what exactly they want to prove? Why the hell they want the blood sampling just before the fight? Do they know what kind of drug they are looking for? I think the fans deserve logical explanation from experts.
Both fighters will be randomly tested, I dont see what the issue is. Floyd will also be giving blood.
@Chad fool
it seems that your name here reflects on the way you speak…if you dont like Manny..dont blame every PILIPINO…FOOL!!!!
i hate to bring up the race card but somebody up there already did. so your saying that guys like roy jones, robinson,floyd,armstong,kobe,lebron etc can be super talented but a filipino cant be? damn shame
It sounds like Pac man uses roids and flushes before the fight. The additional testing Mayweather is asking for would throw off his, likely, long standing routine and he doesn’t want to do it. I don’t really see how anyone can see this any other way.
BTW Pac fights with intensity and all that, but have you people ever seen a Mayweather fight. Its like watching a freaking boxing lesson. I think this fight will be Silva-Griffin esk.. in that Floyd makes really good boxers look like amatuers. Mayweather is going to destroy Pac roided up arse.
I guess the Mayweather camp just beat Pacquiao with a TKO request!
First, let me state that I am a huge MMA fan AND boxing fan. These are two different sports and I have yet to understand why one has to try and bash the other. It seems that almost every other week someone from Bernard Hopkins to Dana White is bashing the others respective sport.
Second, Chad Edward is not telling the whole side of what is going on here in terms of Mayweather and Pacquiao. Pacquiao did agree to blood testing…once the week when the fight was announced, once 30 days before the bout and once right after the fight. This along with unlimited urine testing. Also, lets be clear here…the NSAC does the same testing for both boxing and MMA in the state of Nevada which is urine analysis and up to this point I have never heard Mayweather complain about testing until now. Mayweather Sr and Mayweather Jr have openly accused Pacquaio of using steroids without a shred of evidence. This combined with the fact that Manny has never failed a drug test amounts to slander which has led the Pac Man to file a lawsuit against the Mayweathers et al. Remember how people reacted when BJ Penn accused GSP of using? Most thought BJ was talking out of his butt and the same should apply here.
It’s scary to think that someone could accuse another of PED use with no evidence of any kind be it boxing or MMA and it carries this kind of weight. Mayweather has avoided the best in his weight class (Cotto, Mosley, Williams, etc) and now that he has been cornered to face the very best he is looking for his out and he may have very well found it.