Victorian Amateur Boxing League cracks down on false medical documents

State boxing officials are cracking down on incidents of competitors fudging medical certificates in a bid to get into the ring. Here are the moves they’re making.

Officials are looking to stop the behaviour.

Victorian boxers accused of trying to falsify medical certificates have been warned not to “waste time” as authorities crack down on alleged incidents.

On Tuesday, the Victorian Amateur Boxing League introduced a new policy which could see fighters banned for attempting to write fake medical reports with “very minor” incidents of some being handwritten by competitors themselves.

VABL president Nick Lundh said the policy, which would see fighters given an automatic ban for a first offence, was about further developing the sport’s battle against concussion and blood borne diseases.

Under the sporting body’s rules, the VABL’s licensing offer must be given a medical certificate with an official medical stamp to allow fighters to enter the ring.

“If we don’t have boxers getting proper medicals and something goes wrong, we’ve got to answer to the coroner,” Lundh said.

“We’re just completing our duty of care. The incidents which have happened have been very minor.

“It’s a campaign to say we’re serious and don’t bother wasting your time.

“I appreciate how boxers want to compete and fight. When I was young nothing could stop me. But we have to protect the boxers from themselves.”

The VABL has a much tighter concussion protocol than other sports with concussed fighters via either knockout or TKO sidelined for 60 days.

The first 30 are for recovers, while the next 30 can be used for fight preparation.

If successive episodes are suffered the period increases to 90 then 120 days.

A loser by TKO must sit out for 30 if diagnosed by the ringside doctor.

“We’ve got everything. Full trained referees, trying to make sure the coaches are licensed and aware of what concussion is,” Lundh said.

“In a lot of cases we’ve had weigh-ins at doctor’s surgeries so they can get the medicals done there and then.

“We’re trying to ensure safety is second to none.”

Originally published as Victorian Amateur Boxing League cracks down on false medical documents