Regarding PED/Drug Testing For Hopkins-Kovalev

I got a Twitter request yesterday to check in on the testing protocol for the Saturday Bernard Hopkins-Sergey Kovalev fight.

Good question, for any and all fights, actually, if you care about things like there being an even playing field, and the fact that an edge gained by cheating in this sport has potential repercussions beyond a spike in home runs resulting in a monster contract for a PED-proficient baseballer.

I asked Kathy Duva, the promoter heading up Main Events, about what sort of testing will be in play for her guy, Kovalev, and the almost 50-years-old Hopkins, the self proclaimed “alien” pugilist, for their clash at Boardwalk Hall in AC.

What is the drug testing for the fight? Anything extra beyond what the New Jersey commission does?

“We have not arranged to do anything other than what the NJ commission mandates,” Duva told me.

I was curious, did she push for more?

“No,” Duva said. “As a general principle, I believe that regulation should be left to the regulators (the state commissions) to do. I know that this is not a popular position among fans, but I believe that it is a blazing conflict of interest for promoters to take it upon themselves to attempt to regulate their own fights.”

So there ya go, for the record. I’d like to see us get to a place advocated by Dr. Margaret Goodman, who heads up VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) and would like to see all fighters engaged in year round testing, or at the least, strict and complete testing ahead of their fights. We are not, obviously there now, nor would I predict we ever will be. Your thoughts, friends?

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