Feature
Taking the Gloves Off
Combat sport elicits a lot of passion for and against. Medical Forum looks at at the pros and cons.
From pulling on the boxing gloves in Northern Ireland, to playing professional rugby in Sweden and windsurfing in WA Dr Paddy Golden is one ED medico who doesn’ t like to stand still. Paddy’ s had a long involvement with sports medicine and he thinks that combat sport( CS) is getting some bad press that it doesn’ t deserve. Perception, argues Paddy, is a long way from reality.
“ Some people have jokingly suggested that an ED on a Saturday night is a bit like combat sport. It’ s not, because CS is so well controlled. Everyone knows the requirements, from the competitors to the referee and the physician in attendance. It’ s an absolutely honest and transparent activity.”
The sport has rigorous safety-based requirements, some of which commence well before the event. There is a precontest medical examination, a check of biannual infectious disease serology and annual certificate of fitness, medical attendance and treatment( if required) at the event and a post-contest medical examination. In some sports there is also random drug testing.
“ We have international and interstate competitors coming to WA and we check their accreditation and serology from HIV to Hepatitis B and C. If there’ s a doubt about any aspect of their fitness they aren’ t allowed to compete. In fact, I wouldn’ t have let the Danny Green / Paul Briggs contest go ahead and I said so in evidence to the Combat Sports Commission( CSC). Briggs wasn’ t fit to fight – he was weakened from recent weight loss, his eyesight was compromised and his balance wasn’ t good.”
“ I’ ve stopped guys from fighting because they’ ve failed medicals at the weigh-in. It’ s disappointing for them and their opponent.”
Paddy has a long history of involvement in sport, including pulling on the boxing gloves as a youngster. He grew up in the West Indies, did his medical training in Scotland and both his parents are doctors.
“ I did some competitive boxing in Northern Ireland but rugby took over from that with a stint playing professionally in Sweden. I came to Perth in 1998 and that was very much a climatic decision. I’ m not that keen on the cold.”
��ED physician Dr Paddy Golden says combat sport gets bad press it doesn’ t deserve
“ Sports Medicine Australia contacted me and I did medical supervision at triathlons and the City to Surf. I still work with the Associates Rugby Club and I have a real passion for combat sports. I get paid a nominal fee but I’ d do it for nothing.”
“ I’ m the principal adviser to the CSC but, notwithstanding that, I think that for any member of the medical profession the priority is the health and safety of the individual. It’ s not ethical to isolate one group and say,‘ I’ m not going to support you because I don’ t agree with the choices you’ ve made.’ Where do you stop? Do we refuse to see people in EDs because they smoke?”
“ The AMA is quite happy for members to treat smokers, drug addicts and alcoholics, but it’ s a different story for anyone involved in combat sports. It has withdrawn its support from the CSC and that’ s definitely
had a negative impact. Boxing WA is finding it harder to get doctors. It’ s legally required for a doctor to be in attendance and there have been occasions when it’ s been impossible to find one.”
“ Perception doesn’ t match reality. In amateur boxing they use head-guards, larger gloves and it’ s highly regulated.”
“ I’ d like people to gain a better understanding of these sports. Decisions are being made on the basis of a distorted perception and, in many cases, it’ s a distinctly limited view. I’ ve heard people say that‘ the sport’ s barbaric’ and they don’ t want to be seen to support it, but there’ s a certain hysteria to all this. Good medicine is evidence-based but the people who are against CS only look at the risks and don’ t see the benefits.”
Paddy believes there are many positives of participating in these sports, both for the
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