
Originally Posted by
killersheep
Surely you can't be saying this is worse than the current system. No system is perfect, but why don't you provide the same statistics for boxing so we can see where it stands? One point of reference can't show direction or comparison which is what you are making here. You are either saying
A. The current system is more likely to catch athletes (i.e. be more useful to enforcing the rules)
or
B. The culture of the athletes will change by itself by maintaining the status quo.
Either way unless you can prove that the current system in boxing would do either A or B, then what you are saying makes a good case for further testing.
Would Olympic style testing be 100%? No, but don't you think enforcing random tests would change the culture you talked about? Also, what good are rules if you don't enforce them?
Excellent questions.
"Boxing" doesn't keep records on anti-dope testing and the results. Even if someone/group did a study there would be no way to verify the numbers. I would expect that they'd be similar to that of the WADA and USADA, since the procedures are similar.
Actually, I am saying the Olympic system is not appropriate for boxing. The high profile nature of Pacquiao/Mayweather has brought recon ignition to a problem that doesn't need more bureaucracy. Who do you think is going to pay for those tests the majority of fighters don't need?
Many boxers come from underprivileged beginnings. Boxing could end up with a process based on a knee jerk reactions induced by public clamoring that could deprive us from future hall of famers.
15 years ago or so a major syndicated news organization brought to the public light that there was a major problem with in the sex trade business selling underage children through inter-country adoptions. As a result, people had a knee jerk reaction prompting governments to implement new rules. Today inter-country adoption has dropped from the 1000's to the 100's and less because of the bureaucracy involved.
Costs to adopt have increased x3 to x20 for families wanting/needing to adopt between countries. All of these safeguards haven't stopped the sale of underage children to the sex trade business and it prevents those 1000's of children from having a homes with a families they would have had.
Will adding breathalyzers to starters in cars stop drunk drivers from driving drunk? Will adding check points near bars catch more drunk drivers? Sure it will catch some, but not the majority and it won't change our culture.
Olympic style testing is specifically designed for screening 1000’s of athletes in multiple sports. Boxing is a specific sport.
People talk about random testing as being the magic technique for catching cheaters. Well I hate to dim the lights here but it’s more like a shot in the dark or like looking for a needle in a haystack. Random has its applications, which is mostly employed as a deterrent to introduce the unknown to the user.
If you are looking for a needle in a haystack wouldn’t you use rather a system that runs the hay over a magnet rather than grabbing a handful of hay each time you search?
If PED’s are used, they have a specific target and are applied in a specific manner to achieve desired results. Samples of blood and urine are gathered for specific tests that check for banned substances. Science and the application of technologies are exacting. Testing should be precise in its application.
Yes, Anti-doping policies could do with a modernization boost, but it needs an appropriate implementation, not one which is based on public opinion that pressures rule makers to pacify their demand. The consequences of such brash actions can take many years to correct and waste many more boxing careers.
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