British Board of Control also anticipates log jam of events when sport resumes which could create logistics problem with medical staffing
British boxers will have to undergo testing for coronavirus as part of their medicals and boxing licence when events resume, the governing body of the sport, the British Boxing Board of Control, has suggested.
The move, which would affect 1,200 licensed boxers in Britain, would likely extend to include trainers and cornermen. If it becomes mandatory, other sports are expected to follow similar guidelines.
“I think that testing, as a matter of principle as part of the medicals that boxers always do, is a very strong possibility,” Robert Smith, secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, told the Telegraph.
“I’ve had a meeting with one of our medical officers this week and I certainly wouldn’t rule that out at all. It makes absolute sense. Certainly for the short term, that is something we have to look at very seriously.” Smith, who consults with the Board’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Ashwin Patel and Dr Neil Scott. He added that it “also makes sense” for trainers and cornermen to have to be free of the coronavirus.
“Boxing gyms are not the cleanest places in the country,” Smith said. “You’ve got leather gloves. Germs spread in any gym. We have a duty of care to everybody participating in our shows. If we are told by the doctors that’s what we’ve got to do, then that’s what we’ve got to do.”
The Boxing Board this week cancelled all events until the end of May and will then monitor whether to allow shows to take place in June.
The greatest issue in future months, if events are to go ahead through the summer, will be the provision of doctors at events. The Boxing Board has “50 to 60 doctors that work events” according to Smith.
“We have to make sure we have the right medical cover at tournaments,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure any boxer who needs to go to hospital, they can be taken and accepted. I have a duty of care to the health of my officials as well.”
Smith also anticipates a log jam of potential events when normality resumes which could also create a logistics problem with medical staffing.
“If every promoter decides to run shows the first weekend we’re allowed to, we won’t be able to supply the officials. It’s just a matter of us thinking clearly ahead and calmly, and also with the benefit of the sport in mind and not just the individual.
“The number of doctors needed depends on the size of the tournament and the venue. When we have shows at Wembley Stadium we have six or seven doctors. I think we need calm heads. It’s not over yet and it won’t be over when the lockdown is lifted.
“Shows are off in May and then we’ll be looking at June. We have to look and see if it’s feasible if things can start. The problem we’ve got is that if the government stops the lockdown, that doesn’t mean boxing can start the next day.
“Obviously doctors aren’t going to be available, fighters won’t be match fit. It could take a couple of weeks, maybe three, for boxing to be able to take place after the lockdown is lifted. You do have the other possibility of how long is it going to take for spectators to come to gatherings? That could take time.”
There has also been discussion by some promoters of a behind-closed-doors scenario.
“That would only be with a very limited number of promoters. That is a strong possibility,” said Smith. “It wouldn’t happen for the big major fights, but maybe the lower league ones. But then again, I still have the problem of supplying the doctors. It doesn’t matter how many punters we have in the venue, the doctors still need to be there. Therefore, we’ve got to make sure they are available and ready to work.”