No drug tests were done for any boxer – Chand

There are revelations that no drug tests were done for any boxer during the South Pacific Boxing Promotion over the weekend.

This comes amid concerns that Epinephrine and needles were allegedly found at the warm up area at King Charles Park in Nadi.

Questions were raised by fijivillage News after Fiji's featherweight boxer, Ubayd Haider, formerly known as Nathan Singh, was rushed to hospital in a private vehicle after collapsing in the changing room following his fight with Australia based, Runqi Zhou.

As Haider fights for his life in hospital, his camp wants to know why drug tests were not conducted, and are seriously concerned about the drugs and needles found in the warm up area.

Promoter Fredy Chand confirms that no boxer underwent a drug test after their fight.

Speaking to fijivillage News, Chand says drug testing for fighters is done after every fight, but last night, no one was tested.

He says the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) had requested for blood tests to be done, but in Fiji, we do not conduct blood tests on fighters.

He says early yesterday morning, he heard that the Boxing Commission had organized something because the promoters funded all the fees.

He also says that drug tests is a costly exercise. The promoter also highlighted that boxing in Fiji needs support from its main body, the Fiji Boxing Commission, because promoters are funding all the programs, not the Commission.

When questioned on the ambulance issue, Chand says there was an ambulance on site, but no one came to them to request the services of the ambulance.

He says another fight was going on when the Ubayd Haider incident occurred, but one from their camp helped him to get to the hospital.

Chand says he visited Haider in the hospital and was informed by the nurse that he is not speaking and urges everyone to pray for him.

There are suggestions that Haider looked dizzy, was not fighting back and was unstable on his feet in about round 5 of the bout.

Questions are being raised on whether the fight should have been stopped at that time.

There are also questions being raised on the requirement to have drug tests, the availability of an ambulance and insurance for boxers.

Family members confirm that Haider suffered critical injuries to his brain.

Haider is recovering from emergency surgery however family members have told fijivillage News that he is still unstable.

We sent questions to Boxing Commission Chairperson, Adi Narayan yesterday. He is yet to respond.

fijivillage News is also trying to speak to the President of IBO.

Stay with us for developments.