EDDIE HEARN has called for greater transparency in the VADA testing and reporting procedures after Artur Beterbiev returned atypical findings in blood and urine samples taken on December 6.
Beterbiev, the unified light-heavyweight champion, is set to face Callum Smith in Quebec on Saturday and the pair have undergone full VADA testing ahead of the bout.
However, following reports by Kevin Iole on Wednesday evening, it has been confirmed that the Russian’s tests early last month came back ‘atypical’, while Smith, the challenger, was negative for any and all performance enhancing drugs.
As opposed to an ‘adverse finding’ an atypical one is not considered a contractual violation and is simply a flag for further testing to determine the root cause. Beterbiev’s atypical findings in this instance were for human growth hormone and 5D-androstanediol, which both occur naturally in the body.
As such, Beterbiev was tested again on December 15 and December 21 (urine) and December 21 and January 3 (blood) by VADA and the results came back negative.
But Hearn, Smith’s long-term promoter, admitted the receipt of confirmation of VADA’s initial email raised ‘monumental concerns’ and has called on the testing agency to provide a more rounded explanation for the finding.
Hearn told Boxing News: “For once it’s not my fighter and not my show and I’m just glad the information has got out there. This information was made aware to us in the middle of December.
“It’s difficult because it’s not our show, our testing or our fighter. Let’s make it clear that it’s not an adverse finding but there are raised levels in a test that we want to know more about.
“In the end, the pressure is on to release that information in fight week. I feel like there needs to be more transparency. It’s not on us to release that information. We’re not scientists but we read the information and of course it raises concerns.
“But at the same time, contractually, it’s not an adverse finding. I’d much prefer if it was just one or the other – a test is absolutely fine or it’s an adverse finding. When you read the results of a test that has levels above the testing limit, we want to know more.
“That information has not been as forthcoming as we’d like from VADA. We want to understand more. Transparency is good but I’m disappointed it has taken so long for it to be released.
“It’s not an adverse finding but we just want to know why? Why were there raised levels in that test? I don’t know enough about it. We would appreciate a little bit more science from the testers to make us feel a little bit more comfortable.
“There’s no accusation towards Artur Beterbiev. If VADA feel it’s not an adverse finding then on we go. But we want to know more.
“If you’re saying they can occur naturally and there was a spike in them on those tests, but a week later there was no spike, can that happen? Is that something that happens naturally? It’s a very grey, cloudy area.
“I just feel there needs to be more transparency of people saying ‘this has happened and these are the reasons for it’. You can imagine when you receive that piece of paper from VADA and you’ve got a guy fighting that opponent and you read that, as someone who probably doesn’t understand the science, of course you’re concerns are monumental.
“We just want to be put at ease and I don’t feel like we’ve had that.”
Meanwhile, Dr Margaret Goodman, who is the founder and chair of VADA, insisted that ‘no negative inference’ can be drawn from the original atypical findings in the December 6 test.
It is understood that ‘atypical’ findings are reasonably common and, given that VADA are primarily a testing agency, their role is simply to return test results and not make any determination as to why something is present. Even when VADA return adverse findings, they do not suggest the cause, only report the presence.
Dr Goodman told Boxing News: “Atypical findings are fairly common in PED testing and do not constitute an adverse test result.
“They can result from various causes. Atypical findings generally warrant the collection of further samples. But no negative inference should be drawn from an atypical finding in and of itself.
“Both Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith are enrolled in VADA and are subject to continued testing.”
In a statement released by Beterbiev, he said:
“It has come to my attention that Callum intends to disseminate misleading information about my VADA testing program for this fight.
“Let me be clear now: I am a clean athlete. I have never tested positive for a banned substance throughout my amateur and professional career and I complied with all VADA requirements and protocols during the build-up to this fight. Any attempt to imply otherwise, through innuendo or suggestion is slanderous and libellous.”
“This conduct is beyond acceptable trash talk in combat sports. Callum is already searching for excuses, looking for a way out. See you Saturday.”
Beterbiev and Smith will meet at the Centre Videotron, Quebec City on Saturday night in a clash for Beterbiev’s IBF, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titles. He is 19-0 with 19 knockouts.