The Tribune

MEMBERS of the boxing community, including coaches, promoters and officials, showed up for the Bahamas Boxing Commission's seminar on medical and officiating duties. Commission chairman Pat Strachan welcomed the attendees and noted that the organisation has a big interest in affording those within the local boxing family full knowledge of the appropriate medical and officiating practices. Dr Munir Rashad, who heads the Commission's medical committee, spoke mainly on boxing injuries in the ring. And viewers were treated to presentations by two of the foremost sports doctors in the history of the country - Dr Patrick Roberts and Dr Norman Gay. Dr Patrick Roberts focused his presentation mostly on doping in sports. He was actually the first Bahamian chairman appointed to address doping in sports and he did a lot of pre-work, including meetings with former World Anti-Doping Agency director Dick Pound. "Because the drive and motivation to win grew larger and larger as medals and championships resulted in higher financial profits, doping became a strong part of the sports culture. In fact, in the more industrial countries, doping has been going on for a very long time without some really paying attention to it. But, it's illegal," said Dr Roberts. He appealed to his boxing audience to appreciate the importance of functioning with fairness and pointed out that with the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission now firmly in place, sports organisations like the Boxing Commission are in a better position to ensure that the playing field is level. "I want to emphasize that all competitors ought to be operating on their natural abilities alone rather than enhanced abilities," said Dr Roberts. Dr Gay spoke about the danger of boxing if it is not properly organised. "Boxing could be a very dangerous sport if it is not organised and I congratulate the present Commission for staging this seminar to make sure that all those who participate know how to properly prepare for the boxing shows and matches." Dr Gay was a former minister of sports who guided the Boxing Act through Parliament, resulting in the legislated body called the Bahamas Boxing Commission. He also served as the chairman of the Commission from 2003 to 2007. After the lunch break, the officiating segment took place, coordinated by Commissioner Fernley Palmer. Procedures of the referee, time frames for boxers getting into the ring for their bouts and dressing room ethics were discussed. Throughout the seminar, the interest level was high and lots of questions came from the floor with Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas and Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller leading the way. The seminar, held at Mario's Bowling and Entertainment Palace over the weekend, was well received and could inspire the Commission to hold at least one more in 2012.