Source: Bradley-Marquez PED Tests Begin

A person with knowledge of the situation has informed TheSweetScience.com that PED testing for the October 12th battle between Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez has begun.

“Marquez was tested yesterday,” said the source. “They collected both blood and urine samples.”

As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, the PED testing for the bout will be handled by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

“Everything is fine. The Nevada Commission is running the tests. They are taking extensive tests. They started it [on Tuesday]. Everything is in order. The tests by the Nevada Commission will be just as or even more extensive than USADA or VADA. You have to understand that these are the same tests. These organizations may evaluate them differently but the tests are the tests. If you were trained, you could put a needle in somebody and take the blood,” Arum told BoxingScene.com.

The source also confirmed the NSAC has indeed brought in World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) accredited experts to help administer the program.

“They have accredited WADA personnel collecting and analyzing the samples which will be sent to the The Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL) in Salt Lake City, Utah, a WADA accredited lab since 2006.”

Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer confirmed to TSS who is attending to what regarding the testing. “We are utilizing The Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL) in Salt Lake City, Utah, to collect the samples and perform the testing,” Kizer said. “The administration is solely being done by the Commission.”

The bout was previously considered in jeopardy due to preferences in both camps for different anti-doping programs. Marquez reportedly preferred using the United States Anti-Doping (USADA) program, which also administers tests for Olympic athletes, while Bradley preferred using the Voluntary Anti-Doping Program (VADA) headed by ringside expert Dr. Margaret Goodman.

According to a press release by VADA, Bradley has additionally re-enrolled in their program through October 12, 2013.

Meanwhile, the Marquez camp, who had insisted on the USADA program, could not enroll their fighter into a similar program with their preferred program provider based on USADA’s rules and regulations.

“USADA only conducts an anti-doping program when both fighters agree to the rules and requirements to be included in the USADA program,” said Annie Skinner, USADA Media Relations Manager. “USADA will not conduct a testing program while another organization (other than the boxing commission who collects a fight night sample) is testing one or both fighters, as the other organization may not hold the fighters to the same standards as USADA, the athletes may be confused by differing protocols, and because the USADA program is required to remain consistent with the WADA Code and International Standards.”