Updated at 7:29 a.m., Friday, October 5, 2007
Boxing: Heavyweight fight on despite steroids report
Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. — The heavyweight title fight between Samuel Peter and Jameel McCline is still on for Saturday night, despite a newspaper report that McCline received large amounts of steroids and other banned substances in 2005 and 2006."So far, everything's OK," New York State Athletic Commission chairman Ron Scott Stevens told The Associated Press on Friday.
McCline had his prefight physical Thursday, which included testing for performance enhancing and illegal drugs, Stevens said.
The commission, which regulates boxing in the state, will continue to enforce its policy banning steroids and cooperate with any law enforcement investigations, Stevens said. He added that he consulted with officials from the New York Department of State, which includes his agency, after learning of the New York newspaper report.
The Daily News reported in Friday's editions that McCline received more than $12,000 worth of steroids, human growth hormone and related drugs from March 2005 until December 2006.
"At this point, it's an investigation. It hasn't risen to a level beyond that," Stevens said. He noted that McCline tested "clean" in New York before and after his Nov. 13, 2004, split decision loss to Chris Byrd.
McCline (38-7-3, 23 KOs) and Peter (28-1, 22 KOs) are to fight for the WBC interim heavyweight title. McCline is a substitute for the fight, following an injury to Oleg Maskaev.
Citing an anonymous source, the Daily News reported that Infinity Longevity of Boca Raton, Fla., a clinic associated with the Signature Pharmacy scandal, supplied drugs to McCline from March 2005 until last December. They included steroids like stanozolol and nandrolone, along with human growth hormone, testosterone and tamoxifen, an estrogen blocker taken by steroid users to keep them from developing feminine physical characteristics.
McCline's manager, Scott Hirsch, told the Daily News he doubted his fighter had used performance-enhancing drugs.
Signature and several related sales companies face prosecution in Albany County on charges they illegally sold steroids, human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs banned by many sports.
Heather Orth, spokeswoman for Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares, said she didn't know anything about McCline's case. Prosecutors say their focus is on suppliers, and they have declined to publicly disclose the names of athletes on client lists. They have met, however, with officials from the National Football League, World Wrestling Entertainment and recently Major League Baseball.
The investigation led to the recent suspensions of New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison and Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson. And in August the WWE said it suspended 10 performers for ordering drugs, mostly human growth hormones, that violate the company's drug policy.
