UK Anti-Doping announces “significant reduction” in testing during outbreak

With British boxing dead in the water as the coronavirus pandemic continues, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has released a statement that they have “reviewed [their] operational activity and are announcing a significant reduction in [their] testing programme.“

There is still some testing going on, though they’ll be taking safety precautions.

Where testing will take place, maximum precautions will be implemented to protect the athlete and the Doping Control Officer, including:

DCO wearing personal protective equipment (where available);

Maintaining a 6ft distance between the athlete and the DCO;

DCO selection will be in line with government advice and consider recent travel history and high-risk criteria (such as age or underlying health conditions).

This sounds like a no-brainer; if nobody’s fighting, there’s nobody to test. Where this matters, though, is in the May/June fights still on the schedule, including Whyte-Povetkin on May 2nd and Usyk-Chisora on the 23rd. If UKAD declines to let the fights take place without a standard-length testing regimen, this decision, wise though it may be, could KO them before the virus has a chance to.

Meanwhile, on this side of the pond. USADA inspectors are still stalwartly gathering piss.