Timothy Bradley "USADA Drug Testing is involved or I walk..."
On October 12th, WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley is scheduled to defend* his title against four division champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the Thomas and* Mack Center in Las Vegas.
There has been some controversy in regards to the random drug testing that* will be performed for the fight. Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum previously* stated that he has contracted the Nevada State Athletic Commission to handle the* testing while Bradley maintains that either USADA and/or VADA will handle the* testing. Bradley shed some more light on the situation during a recent* conversation he had with us on BoxingScene Radio.
"My contract says VADA USADA is going to be involved. There's nowhere that* says a third party is going to be involved. I spoke to (NSAC executive director)* Keith Kizer earlier this week, with Marquez and everybody on the phone, and I* let him know what my concerns were.
"I let them know that you guys are doing the testing that my promoter is* asking for you to do but in my contract it says USADA VADA. That's what it says* in my contract so that's what I'm going with. The whole state of Nevada getting* involved and doing their drug testing, that's fine but in my contract it still* says VADA USADA is going to be involved as well," Bradley stated.*
The 29-year-old Bradley said that he has no issues with the Nevada State* Athletic Commission but that he just wants USADA and/or VADA to be involved and* maintains that the fight won't happen if they aren't involved.*
"At the end of the day if that doesn't happen it is a breach of my* contract.* It is nothing against the Nevada State Commission.* It is* one of the best commissions in the world. They have been around for years but I* just want VADA and USADA involved as well.
"At this point if they are not going to be involved there is not going to be* a fight at all. Just put it that way.* If this guy doesn't get drug tested* at all by VADA or USADA then the fight's not going to happen," said* Bradley.*
BoxingScene Radio co-host Luis Sandoval asked Bradley point blank if he would* walk away from the fight, leaving millions of dollars on the table, if the drug* testing isn't performed up to his expectations.*
"I would definitely embrace walking away from this situation.* If* someone's not willing to take the test it just sounds real fishy to me.* I* am not going to fight someone at this level and risk everything if they* cheated.* Everybody has to be drug tested. If this guy's not tested the* fight won't happen," Bradley told BoxingScene Radio.