How should we deal with boxers returning after failed drugs
Posted: 13 Jun 2013, 05:36
With Larry Olubamiwo getting his license back after being caught with performance enhancing drugs in his system it got me thinking what would be the fairest way to deal with these boxers and keep other boxers from potentially being hurt from fighters who have used PEDS.
I know there will be loads of replies saying to never let them box again and they should be banned for life but in reality this will not happen especially on a first offense.
The reasons are that if you are sent to jail for committing a crime you are allowed to come out and work to support your family and a professional boxer is no different. No matter how wrong we think it is this will never change.
There is also the human factor, how easy is it for some people to be led astray by their coaches or people close to them that make them believe they need to do this to be the best, Imo everybody can make mistakes it is how they change when being caught that shows their character.
These are things I'd like to be in place for boxers returning from bans:
1. The returning boxer should be placed on a list by the BBBoC that means they are tested a guaranteed certain amount of times per year done randomly as well as being on call for extra testing if being asked for.
These tests should be paid for by the returning boxer on all occasions, if they don't agree then they don't get licensed.
2. They should be made to sign a contract that means if they are caught using PEDS again that they agree they can never be licensed by the BBBoC again. If they don't sign they don't get licensed.
This would give everybody one chance to make a mistake but then they wouldn't be able to use the "I didn't know" or "He said it was ok" because they would have been punished once before.
If these two rules were brought in it would make the sport look like it strongly opposes to drug cheats but is willing to accept that people make mistakes, it would also show that the boxers understand what they have done wrong and that they are willing to put their careers on the line to prove it.
I would also like to see a ban for any coach that is named by a boxer who is caught using PEDS, if the boxer gets a 2 year ban then the coach should also be banned for that time. After the ban I would like the coach to have to sign a similar contract that means if any of his boxers are caught using PEDS then he will lose his right to hold a BBBoC license.
What are your thoughts on these and also do you have any other realistic ideas that you'd like to see implemented.
I know there will be loads of replies saying to never let them box again and they should be banned for life but in reality this will not happen especially on a first offense.
The reasons are that if you are sent to jail for committing a crime you are allowed to come out and work to support your family and a professional boxer is no different. No matter how wrong we think it is this will never change.
There is also the human factor, how easy is it for some people to be led astray by their coaches or people close to them that make them believe they need to do this to be the best, Imo everybody can make mistakes it is how they change when being caught that shows their character.
These are things I'd like to be in place for boxers returning from bans:
1. The returning boxer should be placed on a list by the BBBoC that means they are tested a guaranteed certain amount of times per year done randomly as well as being on call for extra testing if being asked for.
These tests should be paid for by the returning boxer on all occasions, if they don't agree then they don't get licensed.
2. They should be made to sign a contract that means if they are caught using PEDS again that they agree they can never be licensed by the BBBoC again. If they don't sign they don't get licensed.
This would give everybody one chance to make a mistake but then they wouldn't be able to use the "I didn't know" or "He said it was ok" because they would have been punished once before.
If these two rules were brought in it would make the sport look like it strongly opposes to drug cheats but is willing to accept that people make mistakes, it would also show that the boxers understand what they have done wrong and that they are willing to put their careers on the line to prove it.
I would also like to see a ban for any coach that is named by a boxer who is caught using PEDS, if the boxer gets a 2 year ban then the coach should also be banned for that time. After the ban I would like the coach to have to sign a similar contract that means if any of his boxers are caught using PEDS then he will lose his right to hold a BBBoC license.
What are your thoughts on these and also do you have any other realistic ideas that you'd like to see implemented.