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The World Boxing Council (WBC) is set to resume anti-doping tests as part of the Clean Boxing Program that it conducts in coordination with the World Anti-Doping Agency (VADA), said Mauricio Sulaimán, the organization’s president.
The tests were suspended for at least three weeks on March 21 as a preventive step in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Sulaiman said that the organization was awaiting final details before resuming testing.
“We are in communication with VADA, they are already organizing the corresponding protocols to start the tests for the Clean Boxing Program, we have made a lot of progress in the administrative work and very soon the surprise tests will start randomly,” said Sulaimán to ESPN Deportes.
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The Mexican leader commented that (the program) was suspended due to the issue of prevention for everyone involved in the process, and that they are not going to exceed any current law for the prevention of this pandemic.
“We are ready, it is a matter of the laboratory confirming the areas where the tests can be carried out; it was suspended for care, health, and in order not to put laboratory collectors or boxers and their families at risk, it was illogical to think that during a pandemic, when everyone is forced to be at home – in many countries by law – a project that disobeys such liaisons will be considered or forced,” said Sulaiman.
As for the treatment that the WBC will give to the use of marijuana among boxers, he reiterated that it is still prohibited, but it will be given special treatment, because it is not a substance that benefits the performance of an athlete in the ring.
“Marijuana is a substance that does not give a competitive advantage, it is something that is within the VADA protocol and therefore it is not a substance that generates a direct prohibition with sanctions similar to doping, there are administrative, social sanctions, but it is a substance that does not give a competitive advantage,” Sulaiman said.
“We are against its use because it hurts you, it is something that can hurt you, in terms of reflexes, various situations, but it is an issue that the WBC has to clear with VADA regarding whether or not to approve or not to approve marijuana and it’s something that they have controlled. Cocaine gives you a competitive advantage, if you use it and fight under its influence, or anabolics or growth hormone, they are substances that give a competitive advantage.”