Arkansas begins blood tests after HIV-positive boxer fights

The Arkansas Athletic Commission says it will test fighters for communicable diseases after learning a boxer with the virus that causes AIDS fought in the state last month.

Television station KATV reports the tests will begin before a Dec. 16 bout at Fort Smith. At a Tuesday meeting, the panel said there wasn’t enough time to set rules before a Saturday mixed martial arts fight in Batesville.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combat Sports said Arkansas is the last state to impose mandatory testing. Director Mike Mazulli said the group warned Arkansas that a boxer in last month’s bout had been suspended in Florida because of his HIV status.

Arkansas officials said the unidentified boxer provided a clean medical record, but the panel discovered later it had been falsified.

Gausman announced the switch Thursday on his Twitter account. The right-hander wore No. 39 last year.

Gausman and Halladay are both from Colorado, and the Orioles pitcher said he followed Halladay’s career closely and idolized him.

In a post next a photo of his new jersey, Gausman wrote: “Roy gave me the inspiration that I could fulfill even my biggest of dreams — being a pitcher just like him.”

Gausman concluded: “The loss of Roy is tragic and saddening, but I feel honored to have watched everything he achieved.”

Halladay died on Nov. 7 when his small plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. He played 16 big league seasons, winning the Cy Young Award in each league and being named an AllStar eight times.

MANALAPAN, FLA.