WBO’s official statement on yellow substance
November 17, 2011 (BOXING) – On Thursday, Francisco Valcarcel gave me his thoughts regarding the yellow substance Juan Manuel Marquez ingested on November 12. Mr. Valcarcel, a Puerto Rican lawyer who serves as the president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), said: “. . . in Nevada, a fighter can ingest the Gatorade refreshments during the bout. Please remember that according to the Muhammad Ali Act, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has jurisprudence.”
Muhammad Ali Act >
According to Section 2 (2) of the Act, “State officials are the proper regulators of professional boxing events, and must protect the welfare of professional boxers and serve the public interest by closely supervising boxing activity in their jurisdiction.” The Muhammad Ali Act was enacted by Congress in 2000.
On Wednesday, Mr. Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), was kind enough to give me this response: “Water and electrolyte drinks are allowed in the corner. Any electrolyte drink must be brought to the arena in factory-sealed, plastic bottles. Mr. Marquez used water and Pedialyte on Saturday night.”
Pedialyte >
Pedialyte, an electrolyte solution, is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and is designed to rehydrate one’s body, replacing fluids and mineral lost either through illness or strenuous activity.
Referring to NSAC’s rulebook (see NAC 467), we could not identify regulations specifying what a fighter is allowed to ingest during a bout. However, in Section 28 part (a) of the WBO’s rulebook, “Only plain water may be given to a contestant in the course of the bout.”
By: Mary Dumon International Sports Examiner