• David Price v Tony Thompson

BBBoC secretary 'expects' Thompson to be drug tested

ESPN staff
February 22, 2013
Tony Thompson has lost twice to Wladimir Klitschko © Getty Images
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Calls for Tony Thompson to be drug tested before and after Saturday's fight with David Price have been made after his "sickening" comments that doping should be legalised.

Thompson, 41, has twice fought for a world title in his 39 career bouts and the British Boxing Board of Control's (BBBoC) secretary Robert Smith said he could not understand how a fighter of the American's stature could speak so irresponsibly about the sport, adding that "everyone would expect him to now be tested."

On Thursday Thompson said: "I know this is going to be kind of controversial for people, I think they should just allow doping, period. Because to me it's like the gun law.

"Only the good guys are listening, so it leaves the good guys without the guns. So you just allow everybody... it's an issue of choice; I would never want to be doing anything to alter my body down the road anyway. We all have our suspicions."

Smith gave his response in an interview with the Daily Telegraph: "It's mindblowing that a fighter who has challenged twice for the world title can come out with something like this. I felt sickened, to be honest, when I heard the comments. I'm sure everyone would expect him to be tested now, whether he himself is clean or not, before and after the fight."

Price's promoter Frank Maloney echoed Smith's views on the eve of his man's bout with Thompson at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

"It's surprising coming from an athlete who has fought at the top level and twice for a world title," Maloney said. "To come out with comments like this is just stupid. Athletes should never be relying on drugs. It's natural ability which should get you to the top."

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