There is no such thing as a failed drug test in Russia. How many times are we going to watch fighters who have never tested positive before, constantly testing positive in the same country, and only when they beat local favorites? Lebedev's people got away with it twice against Guillermo Jones, an otherwise clean fighter for over a 20 year career. Now, Ruslan Chagaev's people are attempting the same nonsense with Lucas Browne.
I hope the WBA stops being a willing patsy to this, and starts discounting the Russian drug tests. It is obvious that some entity is either bribing/threatening the VADA reps, or slipping a mickey in the foreign fighter's food and water. Until some resolution can be passed, I call for a boycott of all foreign fighters going to Russia. I don't care how powerful Al Haymon is here... in Russia, he is nothing, and Deontay Wilder should be very concerned about risking his title against Povetkin this spring.
Ironically, the only recent fighter to gain a victory over a Russian in Russia is Wladimir Klitschko, who trounced Alexander Povetkin. He got away with it, yet thinks he was poisoned in Las Vegas against Lamon Brewster. I would agree with him. It was a bizarre sight. By the time Klitschko fought Povetkin, however, he was able to call all his own shots, choose his own accommodations/meals, and even communicate with anyone, as he speaks Russian fluently. For other fighters going over to fight, they do not have these options. They must rely on the other fighter's promoter to be fair. In this scenario, they are certainly not.
Even Tyson Fury was afraid that his post-fight drug test would be tampered with after beating Klitschko, but he escaped without controversy. Also, there needs to be a change in what a drug test result gets us. A steroid is worthy of overturning a result. Certainly weight loss drugs and marijuana are not changing the outcomes of fights. It's absolute nonsense, and merely a way for a snot-nosed immature promoter to throw a tantrum and get his fighter's belt back under the guys of "cheating" when in reality, it is the exact opposite.
I do not recognize Lebedev as a champion at Cruiserweight, and Chagaev was not ever a legit belt-holder at heavyweight. This robbery and corruption will continue, however, until the fighter refuse to go over there. When faced with becoming an insular boxing wasteland, Russian promoters will think twice. They have gotten uppity, and the Browne result should be the tipping point for real change. Let's hope it is.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com