British lightweight boxer Kevin Mitchell was recently asked about the use of anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the sport of boxing. He dismissed allegations of rampant steroid use in boxing as a “myth” and pointed the finger across the pond to American boxers.
“It’s a myth more than anything, it’s not a massive thing over here. I don’t know about America, but here it’s a not a problem,” said Mitchell. “I know a lot of fighters over here and it doesn’t happen. But America’s a different place.”
Frank Warren, an English boxing promoter, backed up Mitchell and pointed to the rapid progression of U.S. boxers through heavier and heavier weight divisions as evidence that Americans are more likely to use steroids.
“If Ricky or Kevin were Americans they would be fighting at light-welterweight or welterweight now,” said Warren. “I don’t see how the guys in America can go through the weight divisions like they do. It doesn’t happen like that in Europe, so who knows?”
Several high-profile steroid positives involving U.S. boxers have been used to support the argument that steroids in boxing is an American problem.
Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver tested positive for the anabolic steroid Masteron (drostanolone).
Andre “The Beast” Berto tested positive for metabolites of the anabolic steroid Deca Durabolin (nandrolone).
Lamont Peterson tested positive for the use of exogenous testosterone.
Of course, Americans don’t have a monopoly on PED use. One of the biggest doping cases recently involved a British boxer.
Larry ‘War Machine’ Olubamiwo would likely disagree with the statements made by Mitchell and Warren. The British heavyweight boxer was recently suspended for four years by United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD).
Olubamiwo tested positive for the use of erythropoietin (EPO) after after a bout with Sam Sexton on January 13, 2012. The British boxer admitted to using 13 different PEDs including various anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (hGH).
Olubamiwo told reporters that a “large minority, if not majority, of boxers are doping.”
Photo credit: Mac Dreamstate (talk)
Source:
SportingLife.com (July 3, 2012). Mitchell – Doping not an issue. Retrieved from http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news/article/543/7860831/mitchell-doping-not-an-issue
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