CHAMBERS' TRAINER COMPLAINS ABOUT LACK OF DRUG TESTING FOR ADAMEK BOUT
By John McCormick

James Bashir, the trainer of heavyweight Eddie Chambers, contacted Boxingtalk to let it be known that he has requested that random drug testing for both Eddie Chambers and Tomasz Adamek heading into their June 16th clash, but so far the promoter of the event has not agreed to the request. 

“When I spoke to Kathy Duva [of Main Events], I told her I wanted testing for the upcoming fight between Tomasz Adamek and Eddie Chambers. She then told me that I would be opening up a can of worms if I asked for this testing. She said that first off, we would have to pay for the testing. I told her I want testing for both Eddie Chambers and Tomasz Adamek for this fight. Kathy Duva said that we can do urine tests and I said no, I want urine and blood tests done. She then told me that it is going to cost $8,000 to $10,000 for the testing to be done. What are they concerned about? Making the fight or making sure that the guys are safe? I told Kathy Duva that I would pay for the testing. Whether I get this request or not is another issue, but I want it done,” Bashir told Boxingtalk.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The fight is to be held in New Jersey, where the Commission will conduct tests on the boxer's urine samples to be provided on fight night. It is Boxingtalk's understanding that HGH (human growth hormone) will not be tested for but steroids, amphetamines and other banned substances will be tested for.

“These people have to stand up and test these fighters because if they don’t somebody is going to get killed here. If Tomasz Adamek is a warrior like everyone says he is, he should agree to the testing.”

It should be noted that Adamek has never tested positive for any banned substances throughout his long career. Bashir made clear he isn’t coming out and directly accusing Adamek of steroid use, but he seemed a bit skeptical. “The New Jersey Athletic Commission asked me if I thought Tomasz Adamek was using steroids. I said no, I won’t go that far because I don’t have proof but I have my suspicions.”

Bashir ended the conversation with disgust in his voice towards  promoters and athletic commissions who aren’t taking a harder stand towards the detection of performance enhancing drugs and the punishment of their abusers.  “I was thinking that this type of drug testing should be mandated if they were really concerned about the boxers. If a fighter is found with steroids in their system, they should be banned from boxing. Not a year off with a slap on the wrist. [Antonio] Margarito was found with plaster in his hand wraps and they gave him a slap on the wrist [one year suspension]. How could they just give that man a slap on the wrist and go ahead and ban Luis Resto for life [for a similar offense]? It’s a contradiction. If you break the rules, you should pay. If you get caught doping, you should be out of boxing, period. That’s the way it should be. It seems to me that the powers that be aren’t concerned with the fighters. They are concerned with seeing the fight go through and the money that it brings along with it.”

When asked if the June 16th fight between Adamek and Chambers would be cancelled if Adamek refused to do the testing, Bashir simply stated “Absolutely not. Eddie Chambers will be fighting Tomasz Adamek on June 16th regardless.”

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