Lamont Peterson
SNARED IN SELF-SET TRAP?
New York, NY– By now boxing fans have gotten the news that the Amir Khan (26-2 19 KOs) versus Lamont Peterson (30-1-1 15 KOs) jr. welterweight (140 lb.) title bout has been cancelled. This is because Peterson has been flagged as a user of a banned substance via the comprehensive testing of VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association). VADA is similar to USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), the entity being utilized by Floyd Mayweather beginning with Shane Mosley in 2010. The testing protocols of these agencies are designed to catch cheating athletes who otherwise would pass standard testing procedures. So Far Mayweather and his opponents have come back clean.
TESTOSTERONE IS A STEROID!
For Lamont Peterson, the banned substance has been reported as synthetic testosterone, a substance Peterson admitted to using prior to his signature victory over Amir Khan in December of last year. Ironically Peterson is the one who requested WADA testing in his rematch with Khan, only to himself get popped for using PED’s (Performance Enhancing Drugs) himself. Either team Peterson thought they wouldn’t get caught or somehow the idea of using drugs to improve Testosterone didn’t register as an obvious conflict for an athlete, despite stricter testing protocol. Either way, these missteps have tarnished Lamont’s clean image and may linger with him for the rest of his career.
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY VALID HERE?
Recently, Lamont’s trainer, Barry Hunter and his physician, ‘Dr. Thompson’ appeared on a boxing podcast (8 Count News) to attempt to explain Lamont’s positive test. According to Lamont’s physician, Lamont was suffering from extremely low testosterone and his levels were likened to that of a 70-year-old man. The Doctor saw this as a red flag and prescribed something to bring those levels up, justifying it as a preventative measure to avoid trauma. The doctor said that low testosterone levels can cause slow reaction times and can thus lead to increased injury and death in fighters who would fail to avoid repeated blows to the head. But what about the fighters delivering the blows doc?
IS LAMONT JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG?
The biggest fight in boxing failed to materialize due to the fact that one opponent refused to participate in testing protocol like what has caught Lamont Peterson. That same athlete has now claimed that he has no problem taking testing, but has yet to participate in what is becoming a popular trend amongst high stakes prize fighting at the highest levels. Now that it’s abundantly clear that athletes have legitimate claims and reasoning for additional testing. It’s a good thing for boxing, but cheaters must beware. The case for testing has just cemented itself in the boxing landscape and it appears to have left a lasting impression on the sport.
Jarrad Woods