Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer 11y

Donaire sets PED-testing standard

HOUSTON -- One thing that separates junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire from every other fighter in boxing is his hard-line stance on random drug testing.

Donaire, who will defend his 122-pound crown against Jorge Arce on Saturday night (HBO, 9:30 ET/PT) at the Toyota Center, heads into the fight once again allowing the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to randomly test him.

But unlike other fighters who might make a deal to be tested randomly in the build-up to a particular bout, Donaire is the only fighter in the world enrolled with VADA who allows the organization to test him 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, whether he is in training for a fight or not.

"I just got a result and it was negative," Donaire said. "They emailed me the result [on Tuesday] and it was negative. I don't mind it. I think it's good for the sport and I am going to do it. It's a good idea. I don't think it really affects you.”

Donaire said he laughs when he hears some fighters talk about the hardship of having to give blood at a moment's notice.

"I had four small vials of blood taken from me and then I sparred 11 rounds," Donaire said. "They took my blood and then, like, 20 minutes or 30 minutes later I did 11 rounds. They can come at any moment. But I'm a clean guy. I don't drink or do anything [bad]. No weed or any chemical in my body. I have nothing to hide. I would love for all fighters to follow me, but not everybody is like me."

Donaire is the A-side of his fights and could easily insist that his opponents partake in random testing heading into their fights, but he doesn't do that.

"I always invite everyone to do it. It's up to them," Donaire said. "It's voluntary for me. They can decline, I don't really care. We would love to have them do that and it would be great, but I train hard and I don't really care if people are on [performance-enhancing drugs] or not.

"They may be a little bit enhanced, but they're still human and their face will still break. They can still be knocked out. To me, they can do that stuff, but with my way of fighting, I will be able to fight anyone even if they are on drugs."

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