by Paul-John Ramos

13.09 - The New York State Athletic Commission made an unprecedented move on Thursday by announcing steroid and MRI regulations designed for boxers to protect their health and reputation, the Associated Press has reported. The governing body, headed by former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, will require all boxers to undergo an anabolic steroids test before each fight and an MRI examination at least once a year.

The Empire State's drug policy comes at the heels of Major League Baseball's new random steroid testing agreement between owners and players. The New York Commission, however, takes MLB's idea a step further by requiring each fighter to be tested before his respective bout is held. A first-time positive will result in disqualification from the bout, followed by a 45-day suspension for a second positive, 90 days for a third, and loss of license for a fourth.

The other new policy requires an MRI to be part of every boxer's annual medical exam. Also subject to an MRI will be boxers who are fighting in New York State for the first time and boxers who have sustained a serious injury. Previously, New York State only required CT scans, which are less accurate in detecting internal problems. An MRI, according to chief medical officer Dr. Barry Jordan, costs at least $1,000 each to regular patients, but New York State will obtain MRIs at $500 each, at no cost to fighters.

The New York drug and MRI requirements are the first of its kind in the United States.