Where are you at on the PED/HGH/Etc debate?

[Sklar]

Testing in boxing is woefully inconsistent and ineffectual. The same applies to many other sports, and it's long been the case that the 'cheats' are usually at least one step ahead of the testers. Are boxers even tested for HGH, for example? and, if they are, is the test reliable?

For me, quietly treating fighters as 'guilty until proven innocent' is surely the smart call with such crappy testing in place.

What's you take?

[Andrew]

I think it's a huge issue and not helped by the fact there is no single governing body in the sport there are absolutely loads. I do wish more signed up to all round testing. I know Donaire did for a while, the only person I know now is Julian Williams.

Part of the thing with PEDs is people being ahead of the game IE like Lance Armsrtong was.

The big concern is someone ending up like Abdulsalamov after a fight with a PED user. And with a lot of headline mismatches happening on TV it is realistic.

It's not going away soon and I feel someone big will get exposed sooner rather than later.

[ThereByTheGrace]

There's cheats in every sport. I think some sports sweep it under the carpet to maintain their reputation.

I look at some fighters and question their look and their performances, but as there isn't one governing body it makes it far harder to regulate.

[Sklar]

There are some real "looks like a duck, quacks like a duck" physiques approaching the top and getting full on fanfare treatment. Don't know whether to laugh, cry, or not give a hoot.

[Boxerbeetle]

It's obviously a major issue, and I doubt many of the top stars are clean. Testing is a bit of a joke - didn't Curtis say he'd been tested far more as a footballer than as a boxer (if he actually got tested at all)?

I don't particularly care about PED usage in sports generally, but the implications of someone getting seriously injured or killed by a PED user in boxing would be hugely damaging for the sport.

[Sklar]

The management and sponsors who know/suspect full well what their poster boys are up to are more of joke than the users themselves. Giving it the whiter than white act, speaking out, and severing ties, on those rare occasions the testers stumble into a positive test, is even more cynical than the mug with a needle in his upper thigh.

[CharlesListon]

There's an argument to say do what you want. Only then would we be on a level playing field with no complaints. Think how many sporting events will take place over an average weekend in the UK.

There is absolutely no way that the UKADA could ever dream of doing anything more than a little piss into a tornado.

The fact that they've caught anyone is to their credit.

[jameswilson]

There are some real "looks like a duck, quacks like a duck" physiques approaching the top and getting full on fanfare treatment. Don't know whether to laugh, cry, or not give a hoot.

There are some guys who aren't ripped who I heavily suspect due to pretty blatant side effects they are displaying. Like you say it just seems madness.

[Sklar]

There are some real "looks like a duck, quacks like a duck" physiques approaching the top and getting full on fanfare treatment. Don't know whether to laugh, cry, or not give a hoot.

There are some guys who aren't ripped who I heavily suspect due to pretty blatant side effects they are displaying. Like you say it just seems madness.

Absolutely. I'm certainly not of the belief that only the adonises of the world are at it. It's right that you can't just blurt out what you want to blurt out without fear of sanction though.

[big lennox]

There are some real "looks like a duck, quacks like a duck" physiques approaching the top and getting full on fanfare treatment. Don't know whether to laugh, cry, or not give a hoot.

There are some guys who aren't ripped who I heavily suspect due to pretty blatant side effects they are displaying. Like you say it just seems madness.

What are the side effects that they display?

[jameswilson]

There's a really good documentary called 'Bigger, faster, stronger' that was made by a guy who's brother's went into WWF. He looks really well at both sides of the argument and goes into the side-effects that are bought on by steroids. One of the big side effects that I'v seen in a few boxers is mentioned in there, I'v PMd you with my exact suspicions as I don't fancy risking legal action. The other good documentary that goes into steroid use is '9.79 the race that shocked the World.'

[Emmseegee]

Feel free to PM me your thoughts, I find the whole subject of 'cheating' quite intriguing. The Seven Deadly Sins book about Lance Armstrong made me a very suspicious man regarding the subject of PEDs.

I dont condone cheating of any sort but cheating in cycling doesnt carry anywhere near the same consequences as cheating in Boxing.

Surely certain countries could step in and make it a criminal offence to fail a drugs test when you are competing in contact sports. Why do we need to wait until damage is done. Every punch taken could be partly responsible for long term damage.

[lefty]

I think it's a huge issue and not helped by the fact there is no single governing body in the sport there are absolutely loads. I do wish more signed up to all round testing. I know Donaire did for a while, the only person I know now is Julian Williams.

Part of the thing with PEDs is people being ahead of the game IE like Lance Armsrtong was.

The big concern is someone ending up like Abdulsalamov after a fight with a PED user. And with a lot of headline mismatches happening on TV it is realistic.

It's not going away soon and I feel someone big will get exposed sooner rather than later.

I think Luis Ortiz has signed up to random, year round testing with VADA due to his failed test in the past.

[tigermoth87]

Personally I think use of PEDs should carry a lifetime ban and all their past victories changed to a No Contest since there's always the possibility they juiced for those too. Not only end their career, but destroy their past accomplishments/record too.

Make it so the risk isn't worth the reward.

[PredatorHayds]

It Seems quite common place but due to the awful drug testing in place people are getting away with it.
Also the length of some of the bans are laughable.

Tarver been caught 3 times yet his last ban was for 6 months I believe which was less than his first offence.

[Sklar]

The various hierarchies have no stomach for civil action. Lawyers/judges are partly to blame. Issuing lifetime bans should be straightforward, it's anything but and nigh on impossible. Who cares enough to foot the legal bill? Nobody.

[Counter-puncher]

The various hierarchies have no stomach for civil action. Lawyers/judges are partly to blame. Issuing lifetime bans should be straightforward, it's anything but and nigh on impossible. Who cares enough to foot the legal bill? Nobody.

Indeed, sports administrators got thoroughly schooled on the Diane Modahl case, I am sure.

[Sklar]

Yep. Speaking of athletics, did you see about that stabbing incident down your way, ex-england rugby player got knifed by a veteran female cross country runner. What's the bobby there? Love life issues or what?

[Counter-puncher]

Yep. Speaking of athletics, did you see about that stabbing incident down your way, ex-england rugby player got knifed by a veteran female cross country runner. What's the bobby there? Love life issues or what?

Ha, I heard the news story at the gym, gave me a brief 'wtf'. It happened at the athletics stadium didn't it? I'll ask my dad to ask around when he's up there next week.

[Cazelo]

There's a really good documentary called 'Bigger, faster, stronger' that was made by a guy who's brother's went into WWF. He looks really well at both sides of the argument and goes into the side-effects that are bought on by steroids. One of the big side effects that I'v seen in a few boxers is mentioned in there, I'v PMd you with my exact suspicions as I don't fancy risking legal action. The other good documentary that goes into steroid use is '9.79 the race that shocked the World.'

Bigger faster stronger is a superb documentary. I can see why WWE stars use it. They have to have 'the look' and have to train whilst being on ridiculous schedules so when they're having very little sleep they need to speed up recovery via other means. There are boxers i suspect think have been on it too.

Got to date back to the BALCO scandal. Just because someone's passing tests today doesn't make them clean so I have my suspicions on a few too

[Boxerbeetle]

There's a really good documentary called 'Bigger, faster, stronger' that was made by a guy who's brother's went into WWF. He looks really well at both sides of the argument and goes into the side-effects that are bought on by steroids. One of the big side effects that I'v seen in a few boxers is mentioned in there, I'v PMd you with my exact suspicions as I don't fancy risking legal action. The other good documentary that goes into steroid use is '9.79 the race that shocked the World.'

Bigger faster stronger is a superb documentary. I can see why WWE stars use it. They have to have 'the look' and have to train whilst being on ridiculous schedules so when they're having very little sleep they need to speed up recovery via other means. There are boxers i suspect think have been on it too.

Got to date back to the BALCO scandal. Just because someone's passing tests today doesn't make them clean so I have my suspicions on a few too

Just take a look at how many WWF stars of the 1980s have passed away. That alone would be enough to make me think twice about steroid use.

[Sklar]

There's a really good documentary called 'Bigger, faster, stronger' that was made by a guy who's brother's went into WWF. He looks really well at both sides of the argument and goes into the side-effects that are bought on by steroids. One of the big side effects that I'v seen in a few boxers is mentioned in there, I'v PMd you with my exact suspicions as I don't fancy risking legal action. The other good documentary that goes into steroid use is '9.79 the race that shocked the World.'

Bigger faster stronger is a superb documentary. I can see why WWE stars use it. They have to have 'the look' and have to train whilst being on ridiculous schedules so when they're having very little sleep they need to speed up recovery via other means. There are boxers i suspect think have been on it too.

Got to date back to the BALCO scandal. Just because someone's passing tests today doesn't make them clean so I have my suspicions on a few too

Just take a look at how many WWF stars of the 1980s have passed away. That alone would be enough to make me think twice about steroid use.

Whilst I don't think they should do it, I do understand the risk/reward mentality of top level pro athletes - to an extent. Ordinary Joes and average competitors who take stuff are idiots. Despite what they try and convince themselves, the risks are real, taking a 'yolo' approach is daft, when you're a wreck at 50 and have a painful second half of your life to not look forward to, you reslise that.

[Supremo]

Bigger faster stronger is a superb documentary. I can see why WWE stars use it. They have to have 'the look' and have to train whilst being on ridiculous schedules so when they're having very little sleep they need to speed up recovery via other means. There are boxers i suspect think have been on it too.

Got to date back to the BALCO scandal. Just because someone's passing tests today doesn't make them clean so I have my suspicions on a few too

Just take a look at how many WWF stars of the 1980s have passed away. That alone would be enough to make me think twice about steroid use.

Whilst I don't think they should do it, I do understand the risk/reward mentality of top level pro athletes - to an extent. Ordinary Joes and average competitors who take stuff are idiots. Despite what they try and convince themselves, the risks are real, taking a 'yolo' approach is daft, when you're a wreck at 50 and have a painful second half of your life to not look forward to, you reslise that.

Do you drink? Smoke? Eat unhealthy foods? Take regular exercise? Always wear sun cream in the sun? Drive at the speed limit? Get 8 hours sleep per night?
The vast majority of people do things that could drastically increase the risk of health problems in later life. To call all people "idiots" is an overly simplistic outlook.

[Andrew]

Seen a couple of WWE references in the thread this CNN special done after the Chris Benoit incident is worth a watch as well. Should see the state of an English Wrestler called Dynamite Kid who was in WWE ( before my time)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DZgI8tlVb1U

Loads of them in that era will have been on some really serious stuff and even in recent times you just have to look at how Eddie Guerrero was in his WCW days compared to 2005 the year he died.

Doubt any boxers would be on stuff on that level though

[Sklar]

Do you drink? Smoke? Eat unhealthy foods? Take regular exercise? Always wear sun cream in the sun? Drive at the speed limit? Get 8 hours sleep per night?
The vast majority of people do things that could drastically increase the risk of health problems in later life. To call all people "idiots" is an overly simplistic outlook.

It's not over-simplistic at all, they're idiots. Heavy drnkers, smokers, gluttons, the bone-idle, tanning freaks, wreckless drivers and chronically under-rested people are idiots too.