Artur Beterbiev’s VADA Tests Show ‘Atypical Findings’
Eddie Hearn has demanded more answers from VADA following the news that Artur Beterbiev’s blood and urine samples brought up atypical findings.
Beterbiev’s results came from a sample taken on December 6, 2023, ahead of Beterbiev’s fight with Callum Smith. Reporter Kevin Iole stated the results showed Beterbiev had atypical findings for human growth hormone and 5D-androstanediol. Both of these substances can occur naturally in the body, but Smith’s tests were all negative.
Beterbiev’s VADA Test
Beterbiev then had further urine tests on December 15 and December 21, while further blood tests on December 21 and January 3rd. They came back negative. Dr Margaret Goodman who founded VADA has stated that there is not any negative inferences from the atypical findings. The news has understandably drawn a big reaction from Eddie Hearn who is Smith’s promoter.
Hearn is fully aware of the difficulties involved with VADA following Conor Benn’s two failed tests for Clomiphene. Benn maintained he was innocent, only to be suspended by UKAD before the National Anti-Doping Agency removed his suspension. Reports stressed it was removed based on jurisdiction because of UKAD’s inability to enforce VADA findings. This meant Benn was allowed to box outside of the UK. But his future in the UK is uncertain until he undergoes a full hearing with UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control. With that being said, this is what Hearn had to say.
Hearn On VADA
“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.
Hearn Wants Action
“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,” Hearn said
‘Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com’
