THE Boxing Commission of Fiji is serious about its approach of implementing drug tests for boxers and the compliance of all procedures.
Chairman Adi Narayan gave his assurance that from next year the BCF would ensure that all agreements with promoters were followed in accordance with the rules and regulations.
This will include mandatory drug tests for boxers after every promotion.
“This time around what we are going to do is immediately after each fight, promoter representative, boxing commissioner’s representative accompany the boxer to the drug testing area,” Narayan said.
“There the people from VanMed Lab will be present to carry out the test. This will be a random test done immediately after a fight.”
Narayan said the BCF would also check before every event that promoters adhered to their signed ‘checklist’.
“All promoters have a checklist like an agreement so before each program as soon as we sign the boxer’s contract, the promoter signs an agreement.
“It is a checklist of things to be done before and during the program so that is a compliance that will be strictly adhered to. No ambulances, no doctor at ring side, there will be no program. Our representative will be there to sight the ambulance, the stretcher and all medical requirements,” he added.
This new commitment followed the collapse and eventual death of Ubayd Haider during the South Pacific Boxing Promotion in October.
Local media reported by in October that Narayan had highlighted the absence of an ambulance on-site with only two private vehicles present during the SPBP in Nadi.
The late Haider was believed to have been transported to the Lautoka Aspen Hospital in a private vehicle following his collapse.
