Some might say the hearings on blood-testing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today would be as entertaining as watching paint dry. While others finally saw a break through.
Travis Tygart, Executive Director of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) was there pleading his case of random blood testing to the commission.
A couple of doctors were there refuting what Tygart was saying, and they claimed urine testing for boxers was the best, safest and most practical way to protect the sport from cheaters.
Tygart seemed to stumble when he said he could have presented one of his sides doctors who believed in the merits of blood testing. Well I thought that’s what this was all about. Why didn’t he have one there?
Things got worse from there. When costs were brought up Tygart said we can look for new sources of revenue. That means a tax where I come from. Is he authorized to suggest a tax? Does he have any concept of what it involves? Isn’t that far and away from his expertise?
Tygart said money from other areas of the budget could be shifted here and depending on quality of the fight, that you could craft a plan that is right for you.
I think Mr. Tygart has wasted enough time of the commission and the professional boxing industry on this matter.
Tell me what government agencies have excess cash kicking around that they will slide over to the boxing department without a fight?
I’m so confused by all this. I don’t know what the promoters are paying for or what the states are paying for in Tygart’s world.
Tygart continues to call Floyd Mayweather a “clean athlete.” This is fine, but 31 -year old Manny Pacquiao has never failed any kind of a test and according to Tygart isn’t considered clean and Pacquiao appears to be Exhibit A if Tygart has his way.
I don’t know how Tygart and Mayweather got together in the first place. But Tygart needs Mayweather, who is one half of boxing’s super bowl, Pacquiao being the other half. Tygart needs the biggest names to make the biggest splash. He might not be able to spot or name any other main event fighters or prospects.
So at the end of the day Nevada said it’s only checking for urine if Mayweather and Pacquiao happens, but the fighters can check their blood on their own but Nevada isn’t bound by its results.
