Cheating in boxing Part I Steroids
by Joe Calvey, Sr.jcalvey@aol.com
Craig Windsor was banned for 3 years 9 months following his post on Facebook to another boxer who had previously been banned for PEDS. The banned heavy weight boxer, Larry Olubamiwu, then took the Facebook post to the British Board of Boxing Control who reduced his sentence by 34 months for being a snitch.
Windsor claimed he was jiving the snitch who he knew to have been banned. Windsor claimed he was innocent to British reporters saying he was just having some fun at Olubamiwu’s expense. Windsor who has never failed a drug test plead true to possession and use of more than one steroid to the National Anti-Doping Panel however.
The panel stated it relied on non-analytical evidence. The ban could have been even longer. Bobsleder Peter Howe was handed a TEN YEAR suspension for not cooperating. "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler has been outspoken on doping cheats being banned for life.
Windsor’s ban had aggravating circumstances that led to the greater than normal two year ban, specifically possession of more than one type of steroid and attempting to mislead the board. It would be difficult to believe that the board didn’t take into account that Windsor owns a boxing gym, trains boxers and promotes bouts.
On Facebook Windsor describes his gym in Coatbridge, Scotland as a place to become an "honorable man in the ring". Boxing classes are offered for less than $5.00 there. In 2012 The Scottish Amateur Boxing Association began an affiliation with Windsor’s gym a decision that must come under review in light of the doping suspension.
Anti Doping agencies have limited budgets for the most part. Certainly when the burden of pre fight testing falls on a promoter to arrange the testing all type of subterfuge is possible. Hence the British cost cutting method of easing the penalty on a snitch.
His story would hardly raise an eyebrow but he has reportedly been warned by the police of no less than 9 threats on his life by a well known crime syndicate. Windsor has been described online as a small time crime boss who in addition to his alleged drug dealings owned a $10,000 a week protection racket that provided "security".
He has been a fugitive who hid out in Spain after his father was stabbed near one of his security locations. While in Spain he fought in underground unlicensed cash fights and is believed to have done the same in Scotland. Police in Spain recently made a bust and confiscated 700,000 plus doses of illegal steroids.
Windsor is only 29 years old, muscular and balding though looking much older in photographs perhaps due to having spent five years in a prison built in 1882.
His first conviction was the result of beating seven men he locked in a nightclub and the second for beating and disfiguring a fellow criminal who was the friend of a man Windsor believed had snitched on him for dealing in drugs which Windsor denies.
Craig Windsor, Jr. is no longer a rising star in boxing despite his 9-2 club level record and his legendary prowess on the unlicensed circuit. There have been no reports that his sponsor strip club Platinum Lace has filed suit to reclaim their investment like the battle between USPS and lance Armstrong.
Prior to his suspension Windsor published a book chronicling his days as a gangster to his reformation titled ‘From Beechwood to Hollywood’ which though cannot be found on Amazon.
Though Windsor claims the basis of his suspension is baseless, he was just kidding on Facebook, should the British Boxing Board of Control ever considers reducing his suspension it should insist he have nothing to do with amateurs who have not reached the age of legal maturity for 10 years from the date of the reduction.
Windsor would be smart to offer it up as an inducement to get back in the ring with the board’s blessing. In the months before pled to the board’s accusations promoting his book he was quoted saying "getting out of crime is harder than getting into it". An enterprising and engaging rogue like Windsor is much easier to forgive if Scotland’s youths are not involved.
By comparison the recent high profile nine month suspension of Julio Cesar Chavez for marijuana usage by Nevada Boxing Commission should be reduced to about 9 minutes and then suspended for time spent traveling to the hearing.