Q&A: Anti-doping in boxing

There are two forms of boxing in the UK;

Amateur boxing: Amateur boxers are those training and/or competing in the sport of boxing under the membership of an International Boxing Association (IBA) affiliated National Federation. IBA is a Signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (WAD Code) and consequently all affiliated National Federations in the UK (i.e. England Boxing, Boxing Scotland and the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association) are WAD Code compliant.

Professional boxing: Professional boxers are those training and/or competing in the sport of boxing, who in the UK hold a licence with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC). However, in professional boxing specifically, there is no single International Federation that is a Signatory to the WAD Code. Nevertheless, the BBBoC has itself adopted the UK Anti-Doping Rules as its anti-doping rules and is therefore WAD Code compliant.

In professional boxing, there is no global harmonisation of anti-doping rules. In the UK, if a boxer gets suspended for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, they are banned from boxing in the UK for the entire length of their ban. However, because there is no International Federation requiring National Federations or other licensing entities to recognise the UK ban, the ban cannot be enforced outside of the UK under the WAD Code, and therefore the boxer may be eligible to fight outside of the UK.

Since the BBBoC has adopted the UK Anti-Doping Rules, all testing related matters are conducted in compliance with the WAD Code and the International Standard for Testing & Investigations. The BBBoC have also completed UKAD’s Assurance Framework, which sets out 24 anti-doping requirements for NGBs in the UK.

Anti-doping in professional boxing globally is not harmonised and does not operate in the same way as the UK - it depends on which body/organisation is licensing the fight and the specific boxing-related rules in place in each country/region (or where the fight is being licensed). At an international level, there are numerous sanctioning bodies with no overarching International Federation that is a Signatory to the WAD Code, so when it comes anti-doping testing, it is not centralised and does not take place in accordance with the WAD Code. However, private sample collection agencies are utilised and do conduct testing for professional boxing organisations.

This is where the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) operates. It is a private anti-doping service provider that delivers testing on behalf of whoever has requested it, in boxing and mixed martial arts. For example, within professional boxing, such testing can be requested by the sanctioning bodies, such as the World Boxing Organisation (WBO), World Boxing Council (WBC), or directly through the promoters of the boxers. As a private sample collection agency, VADA is not a Signatory to the WAD Code. It has its own list of prohibited substances and different whereabouts requirements. Whilst VADA operates outside of the WAD Code, UKAD and VADA may sometimes end up conducting testing on the same professional boxers. 

Where a positive finding is returned following testing by VADA, any results management and sanctioning of the boxer will be a matter for the relevant licensing or sanctioning body. This is why the discrepancies between sanctioning under the WAD Code and following VADA testing can be so stark.

All public interest testing is determined by UKAD and no approval is sought/required from the relevant sport. This is the case for all sports over which UKAD has jurisdiction. The BBBoC, like many other sports, also requests UKAD to carry out testing on a contractual basis. This testing is carried out In-Competition (i.e. at fights) as this is a requirement to ratify a title fight. In these instances, both boxers will be tested. All testing is conducted with no advance notice.

In addition to this, UKAD operates an Out-of-Competition testing programme (including the collection of whereabouts information) across the sport of professional boxing, testing boxers anytime, anywhere outside of fights.

UKAD will assess all intelligence received and determine subsequent steps. Where UKAD determines testing is appropriate, under the public interest testing programme, we will proceed with such testing and would not disclose the intelligence with the relevant sport. UKAD may be required to liaise with the sport to obtain/confirm athlete registration and contact details, however, we would not disclose the intelligence. Where testing is determined not to be the appropriate course of action, UKAD may seek to conduct an investigation, a disruption tactic with the athlete and/or ASP in order to change their behaviour towards doping in sport, or alternatively, intelligence may be disseminated to the appropriate individuals within the BBBoC or other organisations for records and/ or follow up action where appropriate.

If a boxer licensed by the BBBoC tests positive for a banned substance following testing by UKAD (or commits another Anti-Doping Rule Violation), UKAD will results manage any subsequent case by issuing a notification letter to the boxer. If the boxer accepts the violation and provides an explanation for the violation that is acceptable to UKAD, UKAD will produce and circulate a reasoned decision, which may then go on to be published. If the boxer does not accept the violation or challenges the length of ban to be imposed, then the case gets referred to the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). The NADP will hold a hearing where it will hear the case and then provide a written determination.

The NADP is also responsible for determining any subsequent appeals initiated by UKAD or the boxer concerned.

Athletes in all sports, and at any level, have the right to access legal advice. If an Athlete cannot afford to engage their own lawyer, the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel can provide access to a lawyer free of charge.