Victor Conte: More drugs testing needed in US boxing

Founder and chief executive officer of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative Victor Conte has claimed drugs testing needs to be stepped up in boxing.

Conte was at the centre of scandal when it was alleged that his organisation provided performance-enhancing drugs to Olympic gold-medal sprinter Marion Jones, Dwain Chambers and others, the Independent reports.

Doping can be detected through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy techniques, where athletes' samples are separated to assess the different chemicals they contain.

However, Conte stated: "I don't believe pro boxing wants to know how rampant the use of drugs is."

Promoter Frank Warren agreed there could be a problem, adding that human growth hormone tests - which can help boxers to put on bulk quickly - should be conducted on a random basis.

Bolton pugilist Amir Khan recently responded to claims by upcoming opponent Paulie Malignaggi that he takes steroids as "rubbish", stating that he is a completely "natural athlete".