• Heavyweight

Price wants more drugs tests in boxing

ESPN staff
October 25, 2012
David Price claims he has never had a random drugs test during his professional career © Getty Images
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David Price has called for tighter doping controls in boxing after claiming he has never had a random drugs test in his professional career.

Speaking in the wake of the International Cycling Union's (UCI) decision to strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles after accepting the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Price wants more random blood testing.

Price, who demolished Audley Harrison in 82 seconds earlier this month, pointed to the case of Larry Olubamiwo, who was banned for four years after admitted to taking 13 banned substances, including human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.

"Not once in three-and-a-half years," Price told BBC Sport. "I have had urine tests before title fights, but I'd like to see more random blood testing. I know expense is an issue, but more could be done, especially in light of what happened with Larry Olubamiwo.

"He was taking every drug under the sun and that could have ended up in disastrous consequences for someone, given the nature of the sport."

However, British Board of Boxing Control general secretary Robert Smith said the sport was amply monitored.

"We have 850 boxers and over the last two or three years we've done almost 200 out-of-competition tests," Smith was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror.

"We test every single championship contest, we test randomly on undercard fights and if we hear anything, obviously, we will go and test people.

"We had two positive tests this year connected to supplements, which is a problem because of people's naivety, and we had two connected to steroid abuse.

"UK Anti-Doping do all our tests and we have a programme in place for out-of-competition testing, which works very well. They pick and choose who they want to do."

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