Holyfield Named in Report on Internet Steroid Bust

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/16800369.htm

"...The Albany Times-Union, which broke news of the raids Tuesday, reported that drugs from the Mobile lab were allegedly received by former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., former slugger and best-selling author Jose Canseco and former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley, whose home was raided last year by IRS agents...."

"...Approached by a Daily News reporter in New York, Holyfield shook his head when asked about the report. Pat English, the attorney for Holyfield's promotion company Main Events, called the accusation "bull----."

"I've known Evander 20-something years. Plain bull----," English said. "And by the way, he's been regularly tested (for steroids) when he fights in Vegas..."

What do you think? Shane Mosley was on Balco's client list. The same Balco client list that has absolutely destroyed the reputation of baseball players like Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi as well as track stars like Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones. Yet you never hear Mosley's named paired with steroids or more significantly "cheater."

James Toney and Fernando Vargas have both tested positive for steroids. Toney just got two opportunities at a heavyweight title shot. And Vargas seems to have nine lives in boxing.

So I think the big question is...do you even care?

I think that because boxing and football (American) are a lot less cultured sports then baseball and the Olympic games so I don't think fans care that much. The same standards aren't applied to boxing so I don't think we'll hear as much about an all time great heavyweight champion possibly taking steroids as we will about a fairly good baseball player like Gary Matthews Jr. taking steroids.

Anyone else think that maybe almost ALL boxers are on steroids ?

As depressing a thought as it is, I'm sure there are some boxers out there who are on steroids, and Toney was one guy who really needed them to muscle up for the HW division, but this is just something that we have to leave down to the authorities and hope that the random drug testing is enough to deter most of the fighters.

There will always be someone who thinks they won't get caught, who thinks they can outsmart the system, but I hope they get busted and banned. I'd like to see longer bans for positive druyg tests, maybe 2 or 3 years minimum, because that will really decimate their career, and make people realise that they are not to be messed with.

Who cares? I personally think that we, as sports fans, are entitled to see the best athletes that science can produce!!!! ;D Im really only half kidding.

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Originally Posted by Poom

Anyone else think that maybe almost ALL boxers are on steroids ?

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I'm not in any gyms but...I mean when you get tested, you're getting tested by state commisions. You're getting tested by the government. Or at least it's perceived that way. It's hard to sneak one by the government and that's one advantage boxing has over any other sport. Baseball is getting tested by...baseball. Boxing is being tested by the government so I wouldn't think steroids are so widespread in boxing.

But again...I'm not in any gyms and I don't know what's going on in these boxer's bathrooms or anything but you would think more fighters would get caught if EVERYONE used them.

I'd say 80% of RB's in the NFL or using.

Also, chemists are always working on new steroids that they don't have a test for yet.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Who cares? I personally think that we, as sports fans, are entitled to see the best athletes that science can produce!!!! ;D Im really only half kidding.

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To be honest that kindof makes sense. I read an article once before about the various banned substances in sports (not only boxing and also not just steroids but a lot of lesser things) and it makes you wonder - steroids - when combined with proper training make you faster, stronger, etc - banned. Energy drinks such as Lucozade - when combined with proper training make you faster, stronger, etc - perfectly legal. Really whats the difference? Now im not saying I agree with the use of steroids but if they really were as widespread as some people believe (and they're probably not) then would it not make sense to just give up the testing and let the athletes get on with it? Just made me think.

Holyfield has been tested many times over the past 5 years around the time he fought Ruiz and never been tested positive. Either way at this point it makes no difference to me. Maybe they will suspend him so he cant fight.

Does anyone know what the drug testing procedure is prior to fights?
I know they take blood for an HIV test, but do they do the drug test with just a urine sample or do they test the blood for drugs too?

Because HGH doesn't show up in a urine test, a fighter could take that and never show up positive if he's not blood tested.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

Holyfield has been tested many times over the past 5 years around the time he fought Ruiz and never been tested positive. Either way at this point it makes no difference to me. Maybe they will suspend him so he cant fight.

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The thing is though, chemist are constantly ahead of the game. The whole Balco thing was big because "the cream" and "the clear" hadn't even been officially recognized as steroids. Chemist are working to constantly stay ahead of the curve. Testing reforms take place oh once a decade. Maybe twice. These chemist are working CONSTANTLY, there is even a term for it. "Designer steroids" is what they call them. And on top of that, they are also working on additional masking agents.

One thing though, the name they trace Holyfield back through is a supposed alias named Evan Fields. But apparently the reporters felt strongly enough to believe it was Holyfield to publish his name.

One thing for sure though, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

i wonder if hed have had so much "heart" (been a punching bag that just keeps taking shots) if he wouldnt have been all juiced up?

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

i wonder if hed have had so much "heart" (been a punching bag that just keeps taking shots) if he wouldnt have been all juiced up?

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Now that's jumping to conclusions a little bit to fast right?

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Originally Posted by amat

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

Holyfield has been tested many times over the past 5 years around the time he fought Ruiz and never been tested positive. Either way at this point it makes no difference to me. Maybe they will suspend him so he cant fight.

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The thing is though, chemist are constantly ahead of the game. The whole Balco thing was big because "the cream" and "the clear" hadn't even been officially recognized as steroids. Chemist are working to constantly stay ahead of the curve. Testing reforms take place oh once a decade. Maybe twice. These chemist are working CONSTANTLY, there is even a term for it. "Designer steroids" is what they call them. And on top of that, they are also working on additional masking agents.

One thing though, the name they trace Holyfield back through is a supposed alias named Evan Fields. But apparently the reporters felt strongly enough to believe it was Holyfield to publish his name.

One thing for sure though, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

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Well they have a lot to prove if is Holyfield is indeed Evan Fields. Who knows who was on what computer and when. I have have a hard time believing Holy uses steroids. Steroid users eventually get careless and over the years back when they didnt have these masking agents he would have been found out.