Cocaine – one of the greatest risks to fighters
By Margaret Goodman MD—VADA President and Clean Boxing Program Administrator
According to a New York Times June 27, 2025, article, “Cocaine is the Fastest-Growing Illegal Drug Worldwide”. They note that per a United Nations report, “An estimated 25 million people used cocaine worldwide in 2023—up from 17 million a decade earlier.”
In recent months, VADA has had more than one fighter test positive for cocaine (its metabolite benzoylecgonine). VADA’s substance panel includes stimulants even out of competition—this includes cocaine. In addition to the fact that stimulants including cocaine are performance-enhancing, anything that is prohibited during competition should be prohibited year-round. We wish the World Anti-Doping Agency would include stimulant use for out-of-competition testing, but that’s a discussion for another time.
Stimulants like cocaine remain in our CBP/VADA testing for good reason:
Cocaine use can lead to several neurologic complications including aneurysm formation and bursting, ischemic stroke (a stroke due to lack of blood flow) along with brain hemorrhage. The latter is the #1 cause of death in fighters.
Neurology, 1996 study—almost 60% of non-traumatic brain bleeds were associated with cocaine use. So, let’s combine this with getting hit in the head for a living!
We can debate the inherent risks fighters face during sparing and in a bout, but cocaine or stimulant use even when not training can amplify the risk of brain injuries when training or competing. Hope this can serve as a wake-up call to many—including those overseeing combat sports
WBC sidenote – A boxer, just like any athlete from
any sport, can fall in the difficulties of making large amount of money in a short time which comes with fame and dramatic changes in lifestyle; It is only common that with fame and glory comes temptations and a group of people who will see you as an opportunitty to have fun, get gifts and trips and fun.
Please be aware, you are not alone, you have your family and friends, your trainer and manager and you have the WBC as we will always be in your corner.
Do not use drugs, recreational ones or performance enhancing drugs are dangerous and can be deadly.
Feel free to contact us directly in a direct manner by writing to contact@wbcboxing.com or for an intimate private message our President Mauricio Sulaiman at president@wbcboxing.com
