Okolie - VADA

It is probably difficult to find a lab willing to do the blood testing; the tests performed (ie HPLC-MS) are not trivial and cannot be performed in a backyard lab. To get indicative tests most likely you will need a reputable private lab or a University level analytical equipment, and they will at least ask some questions.

 

Just having a thought with the Joe Gallagher connection, can we reasonably raise suspicions about Frazer Clarke too? Same gym after all. We’ve seen Clarke drop a ton of weight, develop muscular definition and vascularity and seemingly a far better gas tank in the ring after he nearly passed out in exhaustion after the TKV fight.

For me warrants suspicion. Don’t care what kind of injury Okolie has but you can’t take ****ing GH for an elbow injury. If it’s actually possible to get a TUE for that it’s preposterous but maybe then explains some of the rapid recovery times from football players after bad injuries.

 

Okolie is just another professional athlete who has someone failed to be professional enough, or powerful enough, to circumvent anti-doping.

Eh... of course you can take growth hormone for an elbow injury. An elbow injury isn't just an elbow injury. Many people with the resource to do it use growth hormone to speed up tendon and ligament issues. The most common use I've come across with respect to injury rehabilitation is for tendonopathy (golfers, tennis elbow, achilles). Extremely common. Just because clinical evidence is lacking doesn't mean people don't and can't use it and experience extremely powerful results with regard to certain soft tissue injuries.

 

I’m referring to the legalities of using GH as a TUE in sport, not the science behind it.

 

No, but I've spent the last 35 years helping boxers for whom I have a soft spot. It concerns approximately 15 - 20 boxers, almost all of whom have transferred money to a secret bank account.

Typically, these "sports doctors" have bank accounts where public authorities do not interfere or hand over information to other countries.

 

I think it's a bit early to lump this tag on Joe's camp

Clarke just wasn't living the life needed imo

 

It's abit naughty to assume the whole gym is juicing just because someone fails a drug test, Joe is a well respected trainer and been in the game a long time.

 

I thought all the athletes in the know were micro-dosing nowadays? Surely Okolie must've been on some serious anabolics to get caught right before a bout?

 

Complete incompetence. It's not hard to test negative. Okolie doesn't have the resources for brown envelopes. Someone will be getting sacked for ****ing this up.

 

Okolie at least has the physical tools, big man, huge reach, can use those alone to grind his way to wins up to a certain level even at HW and whatever he's taking or not has a decent punch.

Seeing Clarke named, he's a guy that turned over late but has bang average ability, doesn't punch particularly hard tbh the decent draw on his record against Wardley seems to have taken a lot out of him. The rematch cemented that.

For me he may be in better shape due to living the life or other means, won't make much difference, if your losing to TKV at 34 he's suddenly not going to turn into George Foreman whatever he takes, the ability simply isn't there!

 

Clarke may have been better some years ago, not sure. Some have said he peaked as an amateur.

Whatever the case, he doesn't seem to be particularly content and probably expected more out of himself. He comes across incredibly bitter in interviews and quite rude. Quite an arrogant guy is my perception.

He could win a British title against the right opponent. He wouldn't beat Riakhpore and Riakhpore isn't that good. He's 36 and has done next to nothing. It would need to be a weak opponent.

 

Saw an interview with Paulie Malinaggi and Chris Algeri discussing this. They both said for VADA you need to disclose any drug you're about to take before you use it. So even if Okolie did have a legit reason to use this GH he didn't disclose it to VADA and didn't follow protocol allegedly

 

I'm disappointed in Okolie, yes I know he can have an awful style, but he is big, strong and can punch, I just thought he'd eaten his way up to heavyweight, he certainly didn't look like Riakhpore, ie carved from marble, I liked his attitude after his loss to CBS, made no excuses and gave CBS his props.

Shame

 

So this says it all really, he and his team chanced it and came up short.