Comments Thread For: Jessie Vargas 'No Coward,' Joins The Fight Against PEDs

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - Merely winning his first major title isn’t enough for Jessie Vargas, who sees more belts and conquests in his future.

Nor does the unbeaten super lightweight wish to toe the line when it comes to the current state of drug testing in boxing. The first defense of his 140 lb. title reign ?versus unbeaten Anton Novikov on August 2 in his Las Vegas hometown ?will come with the security of random drug testing as conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).

At least for one fighter.

“I always looked up to top fighters who want to clean up the sport,?Vargas (24-0, 9KOs) said of the decision to enroll in 24/7/365 random drug testing. “It's something to admire. In a sport like this, it needs to be clean. It's a very fun, yet competitive and physical combat sport.

“The fighters should be clean. Any fighter who chooses to do steroids, they're cowards. They don't have confident in their own talent. They can't rely on their own physical attributes so they look for ways to get that advantage.?br />
The decision comes shortly after dethroning previously unbeaten Khabib Allakhverdiev this past April. The feat came on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s return to welterweight prominence, handing Tim Bradley his first loss to avenge a controversial defeat from nearly two years ago. [Click Here To Read More]

[Ruthless One]

Tbh, all boxers should undergo year-long testing, not just a few individuals.

[damned1974]

Crazy to think just a few short years ago that the fighters asking for randomized testing were being labelled "cowards"....I guess it takes a LW to ko a WW before it is no longer a sign of cowardry when asking for randomized testing...

[damned1974]

Tbh, all boxers should undergo year-long testing, not just a few individuals.

I agree. I also believe that when a boxer refuses randomized testing,then they should be scrutinized and held in a su****ious light-especially when the excuses don't add up-lol

[thuggery]

I agree. I also believe that when a boxer refuses randomized testing,then they should be scrutinized and held in a su****ious light-especially when the excuses don't add up-lol

What about the ones that actually test positive like J'Leon Love, Mickey Bey Jr, Peterson, Berto and so on who only get a slap on the wrist or come out with "muh docterz note doe"?

[ShoulderRoll]

He's basically calling Manny Pacquiao a coward.

[duwdu]

Crazy to think just a few short years ago that the fighters asking for randomized testing were being labelled "cowards"....I guess it takes a LW to ko a WW before it is no longer a sign of cowardry when asking for randomized testing...

+1. And one could smell, from one mile away, how scandalously hard Jake Donovan tried - and thought he had succeeded - in avoiding to associate Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s name with the subject of the article. In spite of this type of yellow journalism, however, history - at least of the moral variety on the subject - beckons on the side of FMJ. P34c3

[duwdu]

What about the ones that actually test positive like J'Leon Love, Mickey Bey Jr, Peterson, Berto and so on who only get a slap on the wrist or come out with "muh docterz note doe"?

Those ones - including, just of recent, Rios, Chavez, Jr, and so on, at least agreed to be tested, otherwise we wouldn't have known. That's the point. Besides, those that so agreed to be tested - and got busted - not only got "slaps on the wrists," they also suffered serious purse/revenue and 'reputational' consequences as well. P34c3

[PETUFF]

warr Jessie!!you said it baby cowards!!

[JakeNDaBox]

+1. And one could smell, from one mile away, how scandalously hard Jake Donovan tried - and thought he had succeeded - in avoiding to associate Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s name with the subject of the article. In spite of this type of yellow journalism, however, history - at least of the moral variety on the subject - beckons on the side of FMJ. P34c3

What does Mayweather have to do with random year-round testing and/or VADA? About as much as he still has to do with Jessie Vargas' career.

Since this article is about Jessie Vargas, and fighters enrolled in year-round testing, no Mayweather does not get a mention.

Funny you mention him, though. He no longer forces the issue with random drug-testing with his opponents, as if the whole thing was to save face for the failed negotiaitons with Pacquiao - lasted long enough to make it seem as if he takes a stance.

He has NEVER demanded his own fighters submit to random testing - I even asked Floyd, Ellerbe and Schaefer on the subject back when he first enrolled in USADA (and when Vargas was still fighting for Mayweather Promotions), and got nothing but stutters and non-answers in response. Even after his fighters were popped, still nothing. In fact, he parades around J'Leon Love as the future of the sport, without holding him to any kind of standards.

Even back then, Vargas was on record saying he was willing to submit to random testing. Now that he has a belt, he's willing to lead by example. Nobody would notice if he didn't enroll, so the fact that he's doing so voluntarily should be applauded.

Finally, USADA has taken it on the chin in the years since being "introduced" to the boxing world, to where it's hard to lend credibility to their program. WADA as a whole? Sure. But not USADA and its "standards" in boxing.