The finding of Robert Helenius’ doping test is telling. Suek’s testing manager opened up to Urheilu how the doping regulations in professional boxing differ from what they are used to.
The sports weekend started with big news when the boxer of Robert Helenius was reported to have given a positive doping test. Boxing promoter Matchroom Boxing told about it late on Friday evening.
Helenius gave his test the day before the match two weeks ago Anthony Joshua against.
Testing manager of the Finnish Sports Ethics Center Katja Huotari points out that even at this stage it is not a doping violation in itself.
– It’s about the discovery in the sample. It could be due to the medicine. It could be that the athlete has a different exemption for that drug, or it could be a residue from a nutritional supplement, in which case it is a doping violation, says Huotari.
– Of course, it is possible that it is intentional doping. It is not known at this stage, when the substance is not known, and nothing else is known about the case. We only know that the find has been found.
Secretary General of the Finnish Professional Boxing Association Jussi Niemonen stated to Ilta-Sanom, that it is not necessarily the case that a prohibited substance was found in Helenius’ sample. Niemonen reminds that you have to be very judicious about which terms to use in Finnish.
Matchroom Boxing announced the incident with the term “adverse analytical finding”.
– It means that there is something unclear in the doping test. I have to wait for additional facts. We have already been in contact with the testing doping agency and the supervising agency, Niemonen commented to IS.
According to the promoter, the information about the test result comes from Vada (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association), which, despite the similar name, is a different organization than the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada, which is more familiar to Finns.
– There is no activity in professional boxing World Anti-Doping Code subordinate activity. Vada’s measures are not one-on-one activities based on the World Anti-Doping Regulations, which Finnish sports are used to, Huotari explains.
According to Huotar, the elements in Vada’s operation are largely the same, but there are differences, for example in the list of prohibited substances.
– Under the World Anti-Doping Code, substances and methods prohibited in competitions and outside of competitions are defined. Vada only has one list, which can cause problems, says Huotari.
The promoter’s announcement also stated that Helenius’ test was voluntary. According to Huotar, it is a misleading term.
– Yes, the athletes are committed to testing. On Vada’s website, it is said that athletes commit to anti-doping eight weeks before the scheduled match and after that they can be tested, says Huotari.
– In this case, it is assumed that the test has been part of the system and that the test situation itself is no longer voluntary, but has been agreed to with a commitment.
In this case, however, Helenius found out about the match only a week before, because Joshua’s original opponent Dillian Whyte also gave a positive doping test.
Vada’s website lists the boxers fighting under its authority. The list includes a large group of world stars from Joshua To Tyson Fury.
In connection with the Helenius news, the credibility of top boxing and anti-doping work have been questioned in the British media due to continuous doping news. For example, Joshua and Helenius have criticized the sport’s unclear testing practices.
– Regardless of the organization and which organization’s regulations are followed, it is essential that the athletes know what they are committed to. The athlete has the right to know what is forbidden and what is allowed. The same should happen in all organizations, says Huotari.