Anabolic Steroids Contributed to Boxer’s Death According to Commission

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The Arkansas Athletic Commission concluded that a boxer’s use of anabolic steroids may have contributed to his death after a January boxing match. Anthony Jones was knocked out by Quincy Palmer during a heavyweight boxing match on January 29, 2011 in Benton, Arkansas. Jones showed obvious signs of impairment in a videotape of the bout. However, the commission’s ringside doctor did not recognize the existence of a life-threatening emergency. Jones was sent to the hospital in an ambulance as a precaution. The 28-year old amateur boxer died of multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The Arkansas State Medical Examiner concluded that a concussion was the primary cause of death but the  Arkansas Athletic Commission made every effort to dismiss the risks associated with the sport of boxing. The commission’s report sought to blame the death on the actions of the boxer rather than the sport itself. The report concluded that Jones’ death was, in part, caused by his use of anabolic steroids, dietary supplements such as creatine and protein powder, tobacco and alcohol.

“Jones’ use of alcohol and anabolic steroids, together with his extraordinary use of caffeine, tobacco, and nutritional supplements on top of additional multi-vitamins and potassium supplements without drinking sufficient water, created a biological environment which altered his normal physiological responses and facilitated his demise,” according to the commission’s report.

The 143-page report included post-mortem tests that revealed the presence of three types of anabolic steroids in Jones’ system. These included boldenone undecylenate, commonly known in the athletic community as Equipoise. The report emphasized that Equipoise is intended for animal use only.

“No one thing that was done by Mr. Jones or that happened within his body would have by itself been lethal or fatal to him, but when they all combined into the perfect storm it was something that his body just could not survive,” according to Arkansas Athletic Commissioner Jason Stuart.

The Arkansas Athletic Commission argued that the hairline skull fracture and “microscopic” hemorraghing and bruising of Jones’ brain resulting from his participation in boxing were not sufficient to cause death. The AAC asserted that such a “minor” injury could only result in death if it happened in an athlete that used steroids and supplements.

“The end result was simply a cascading, multi-system failure resulting in death,” according to the report.

Source:

Crawford, H. (September 13, 2011). Athletic Commission Releases Report on Boxer’s Death. Retrieved from http://www.katv.com/story/15444953/athletic-commission-release-report-on-boxers-death

Associated Press. (August 12, 2011). Panel: Potassium led to Ark. boxer’s death. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18878927