Anti-doping record of ‘king of steroids’ revealed
British boxer Anthony Joshua was tested six times by anti-doping authorities before his last fight.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has defended his star against the ‘‘king of steroids’’ taunt from Joseph Parker and hit out at the doping cases blighting the sport, believing cheats should be banned for life.
Parker quickly withdrew his unexpected jab at Joshua which came in the wake of Joshua laughing at the Kiwi about his weight, suggesting he was the ‘‘king of pies’’.
WBO champion Parker and WBA and IBF champion Joshua square off in Cardiff on March 31 in a world heavyweight unification fight.
Hearn believes progress is being made at a time when proven doping offenders Luis Ortiz, Alexander Povetkin and Lucas Browne are all set to fight again in the heavyweight division after being given approval to lace up their gloves by authorities on the back of suspensions.
Joshua is signed up to the UK Anti-Doping Agency’s whereabouts system, which undertakes out-of-competition testing, meaning authorities can turn up at his door 365 days a year.
Hearn told the Independent Joshua had been regularly checked before his last fight against Carlos Takam last October which ended in a 10th round TKO win in Cardiff.
‘‘I really believe it’s a problem that’s being solved. Where we are now compared to two or three years ago is night and day,’’ Hearn said.
‘‘The main problem, I feel, is in other countries but Britain is doing well. We have the UKAD random testing. It means Joshua was tested six times in the build-up to his last camp. Other fighters are getting knocks on the door at 3am for testing.
‘‘But in America, or other countries, there is no testing at all other than around the event, although that is changing.
‘‘I think what we’re seeing from the governing bodies is that they are really stepping up their game on the testing processes.
‘‘Both the WBC and the WBA now have random VADA testing and the only way you’re going to catch these people really is through random testing. Hopefully the WBO and IBF follow suit so there are no gaps.
‘‘The issue is certainly not as developed and extensive as cheating in cycling but some of these fighters are dealing with doctors who will know how to cheat a system. Random testing is the only way to eradicate it from the sport.’’
Parker himself fell foul of the WBC testing programme last year when they turned up at his Las Vegas address but the Kiwi was not there.
He had failed to inform them he was taking an extended holiday after his first WBO title defence against Razvan Cojanu and didn’t provide his alternative contact details.
Neither Joshua or Parker have tested positive for any banned substances.
Hearn’s personal believe is that cheats should be banned given the dangers of contesting a combat sport with a known advantage.
‘‘People say ‘should these fighters be banned for life if they are caught?’ I think if a fighter is knowingly taking drugs to cheat in the sport of boxing, 100 per cent they should be banned for life,’’ Hearn told the Independent.
‘‘But the issue is that it’s not my decision, it’s a decision made by governing bodies, local commissions, the British Boxing Board of Control.
‘‘Also, how many have just been unlucky? Maybe they took a supplement they shouldn’t have.
‘‘Alexander Povetkin ... he will probably end up as Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challenger. He has failed a test, multiple times, but is now cleared by his commission and by the WBA. So what do we do? Decide not to fight him? Then Anthony Joshua will get stripped of the WBA belt he has worked so hard for.
‘‘Once a ban is served, it’s very difficult for the governing body to say ‘you’re out’. Maybe if somebody gets done more than once, the governing body should say ‘you’re out’. But then it’s difficult because there are so many variations for what you might fail on.
‘‘Look at Luis Ortiz, he failed a test for a supplement that lowers blood pressure but could also be used as a masking agent. Then his doctor confirms he has high blood pressure. Who do you believe?’’