NYSAC looking to update drug testing policies

by Brickhaus on Mar 17, 2010 1:23 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

NYSAC Chair Melvina Lathan, here at the International Boxing Hall of Fame, is looking into updating the state's boxing drug testing policies. via www.ibhof.com

According to the New York Post, the New York State Athletic Commission may be taking steps to upgrade its drug testing policies to blood testing. Presently, the NYSAC only tests pre- and post-fight urine samples, which is in line with most major American athletic commissions.

"We're in the process of doing the research now," Lathan said. "We have been for several weeks. We're going to upgrade our testing policies. As soon as my medical advisory board gets back to me with their findings, we're going to look over their recommendations."

"We're tossing around a lot of policies," Lathan said. "We're trying to find out which ones work better for our state, for our boxers and for boxing. We're trying to get what works, and once we get all of those things together, then we'll come out with a statement about our policies."

This has been a hot button issue recently in the sport, ever since a proposed superfight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fell apart due to Mayweather's insistence on Olympic-style drug testing for the fight. Since then, there has been some discussion and movement in the subject, particularly with Sauerland's new TV deal reportedly including a rider that all of its fights would need to include Olympic-style drug testing.

It will probably be a while before any actual changes are made - these are beaurocracies we're dealing with, and the government needs to perform its diligence and analyze whether the benefits outweigh the obvious costs - but it's nice to see that the commissions are taking a step in the right direction.

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“We’re in the process of doing the research now,” Lathan said. “We have been for several weeks. We’re going to upgrade our testing policies. As soon as my medical advisory board gets back to me with their findings, we’re going to look over their recommendations.”

Not that I’m a skeptical curmudgeon, but whenever I hear about a boxing commission “researching” a new policy, I picture waves of fresh bribe money rolling in under the table. They’ll give everyone fair warning about this “potential” policy change, so everyone can get their checkbooks out. NYSAC in particular was riminal enterprise for many years now under Stevens. I’d like to say that replacing Stevens was the only good thing that Governor Patterson has ever done for the state, but Patterson is more crooked than a bag of snakes, so I’d be shocked if Lathan will turn out be some kind of a saint. She’s former boxing judge, sure, but since when was that a sign of incorruptible sainthood?

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

“NYSAC in particular was a criminal enterprise for many years under Stevens.”

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Good to see you back Jrok

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Mar 17, 2010 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Hey thanks

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes,

for the return of jrok (not politics allowed on here so just have to avoid Vitali discussions).

It’s beginning to feel like any essentially political (uh oh) entity is a dead end.

by Don From Prov on Mar 17, 2010 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

If it's related to this issue, I don't think we'll care

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Mar 17, 2010 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t really mean it in a political way. But! NYSAC, like all such commissions, is a cesspool of political favors handed down from on high. And they have been a corrupt crew for a long time now, I’m sorry. They can even fuck up by doing nothing, as in the sordid Casamayor-Santa Cruz affair. I’m just saying whenever I hear one of these jokers telegraph a punch, I smell sulfur. The only time the game ever changes is when massive piles of money can be made from the change, as was the case in the 12-round rule.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Mine

was a joke (even the “not” instead of the “no” was on purpose).

It is good to see jrok posting again.

by Don From Prov on Mar 17, 2010 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks Don

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I do wonder what the hell she’s been smoking if these comments of hers are truly above board. With the howling recession our state is in, there doesn’t seem to be a snowball’s chance in Hell of a anti-ped proposal getting over. If the current ped-testing setup is truly not catching dopers and it’s a serious and widespread problem, fights will just migrate across the Hudson or out West. It’s all about cents not sense. If it’s a good rule then it should be employed everywhere, not just in a few select venues. But, of course, that would require a central authority which boxing does not and never will have.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

Speak of the MF'ing devil

There’s been plenty of speculation as to your whereabouts.

"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"

by lcollins1 on Mar 17, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Short jail stint

No, kidding around. Just a bunch of work-related bullshit and the bile from the Pac-Mayweather fiasco kept me away from boxing for awhile. Watching boxing lay another giant turd on itself made me madder than hell. I’m still kind of mad.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Mar 17, 2010 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions