BoxRec

This is prompted by seeing Wilder and Chisora eating food from a stall. There's been a few contamination cases over the years where fighters have blamed certain foods for being the source of their failed PED test. That being the case why are they not more careful about what or where they eat? Not saying there is anything wrong with where they ate but just a general observation.

I guess the UK has higher food standards than many countries but even so there's a potential risk that some places might buy imported products.

I can't say I know too much about how likely you are to fail a test from eating one 'dodgy' meal but surely if your career can effectively be over from a failed PED test why don't the top professionals just not risk it?

Controversial wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:16 This is prompted by seeing Wilder and Chisora eating food from a market stall. There's been a few contamination cases over the years where fighters have blamed certain foods for being the source of their failed PED test. That being the case why are they not more careful about what or where they eat?

I guess the UK has higher food standards than many countries but even so there's a potential risk that certain places might buy cheap imported products.

I can't say I know too much about how likely you are to fail a test from eating one 'dodgy' meal but surely if your career can effectively be over from a failed PED test why don't the top professionals just not risk it?

I heard something interesting in an interview Josh Kelly gave in the dressing room after his recent win. One of his team gave him a single use bottle of water, and because the top was loose, he queried it and was assured it was opened by one of his team.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:39
I heard something interesting in an interview Josh Kelly gave in the dressing room after his recent win. One of his team gave him a single use bottle of water, and because the top was loose, he queried it and was assured it was opened by one of his team.

Yeah I think water is a big one for some fighters, I know David Haye and Groves has spoke about taking their own sourced water with them to fights.

I think 90% of the time that the contaminated food excuse has been used, they're only saying it as it's an excuse that has had success but they've actually been using it intentionally. You get the occasional time where supplements have cross-contaminated ingredients which make a bit of sense if they make other supplements in the same factory which may include the ingredients, but generally the other excuses appear to be lies.

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:59 I think 90% of the time that the contaminated food excuse has been used, they're only saying it as it's an excuse that has had success but they've actually been using it intentionally. You get the occasional time where supplements have cross-contaminated ingredients which make a bit of sense if they make other supplements in the same factory which may include the ingredients, but generally the other excuses appear to be lies.

One thing that I find really interesting about the Connor Benn case is, the tester stated that the substance had been ingested, not administered. I'm amazed that Benn didn't shout that from the rooftops, but I guess he was following lawyer's orders.

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:59 I think 90% of the time that the contaminated food excuse has been used, they're only saying it as it's an excuse that has had success but they've actually been using it intentionally. You get the occasional time where supplements have cross-contaminated ingredients which make a bit of sense if they make other supplements in the same factory which may include the ingredients, but generally the other excuses appear to be lies.

Yeah of course but surely there is a risk if you are eating and drinking in public places, how do they know where they source their products? If you are a professional athlete surely the onus is on you to make sure you aren't swallowing something that can come back and bite you.

Controversial wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 11:03

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:59 I think 90% of the time that the contaminated food excuse has been used, they're only saying it as it's an excuse that has had success but they've actually been using it intentionally. You get the occasional time where supplements have cross-contaminated ingredients which make a bit of sense if they make other supplements in the same factory which may include the ingredients, but generally the other excuses appear to be lies.

Yeah of course but surely there is a risk if you are eating and drinking in public places, how do they know where they source their products? If you are a professional athlete surely the onus is on you to make sure you aren't swallowing something that can come back and bite you.

I think what I'm trying to say is that generally, you're probably not going to find any of the illegal substances in food. Other than supplements, what failed tests have successfully used the contaminated food excuse? Canelo's mexican beef and Benn's 40 eggs per week? You wouldn't be able to be much safer with beef or eggs at home as it's just a simple product without an ingredients list. Those are two excuses that nobody believes as well.

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 13:45

Controversial wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 11:03

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 09:59 I think 90% of the time that the contaminated food excuse has been used, they're only saying it as it's an excuse that has had success but they've actually been using it intentionally. You get the occasional time where supplements have cross-contaminated ingredients which make a bit of sense if they make other supplements in the same factory which may include the ingredients, but generally the other excuses appear to be lies.

Yeah of course but surely there is a risk if you are eating and drinking in public places, how do they know where they source their products? If you are a professional athlete surely the onus is on you to make sure you aren't swallowing something that can come back and bite you.

I think what I'm trying to say is that generally, you're probably not going to find any of the illegal substances in food. Other than supplements, what failed tests have successfully used the contaminated food excuse? Canelo's mexican beef and Benn's 40 eggs per week? You wouldn't be able to be much safer with beef or eggs at home as it's just a simple product without an ingredients list. Those are two excuses that nobody believes as well.

It's supposed to be strict liability, i.e. no excuses for the fighter. You can fail a test for over-the-counter cough medicine, and I think even caffeine used to be on the banned list some years ago. So no guarantees on what might be in some food. Therefore well done to Josh Kelly for being careful - sounds like he is doing it the right way.

olij999 wrote: ↑12 Feb 2026, 09:29

joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 13:45

Controversial wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 11:03

Yeah of course but surely there is a risk if you are eating and drinking in public places, how do they know where they source their products? If you are a professional athlete surely the onus is on you to make sure you aren't swallowing something that can come back and bite you.

I think what I'm trying to say is that generally, you're probably not going to find any of the illegal substances in food. Other than supplements, what failed tests have successfully used the contaminated food excuse? Canelo's mexican beef and Benn's 40 eggs per week? You wouldn't be able to be much safer with beef or eggs at home as it's just a simple product without an ingredients list. Those are two excuses that nobody believes as well.

It's supposed to be strict liability, i.e. no excuses for the fighter. You can fail a test for over-the-counter cough medicine, and I think even caffeine used to be on the banned list some years ago. So no guarantees on what might be in some food. Therefore well done to Josh Kelly for being careful - sounds like he is doing it the right way.

I understand that, however, are there any cases where banned substances have supposedly been found in food where you actually believe it was in the food?