BOXING LEADERS ENLIST AID TO FIGHT DRUGS

THE Scottish Boxing Federation has called in the anti-drugs group Calton
Athletic to help to fight drug-taking among young fighters.

The SBF has set up a special educational seminar today to teach coaches to
spot the early signs of drug abuse. The emergency measure comes after the
federation admitted that it had lost a number of would-be boxing champions
to hard and "recreational" drugs.

The national coach, John McNair, said last night that in recent years six
talented young boxers, one of whom reached championship level, had given up
the sport and training because of the lure of drugs, including heroin,
cannabis and ecstasy.

He said the culture of drug-taking had become so commonplace in society
that even fitness-obsessed dedicated boxers were losing interest in
training and in the fight game.

Because of their fears, he and the federation have taken the unusual step
of inviting Calton Athletic to a national meeting of boxing trainers to
teach them how to combat the problem.

"He was one of the best we've ever had, and he would have made it to the
top if he hadn't started on heroin."

"It's heartbreaking, and every time it happens, it's like losing one of my
own sons."

Kenny Murray, the father of the Scottish boxer Jim Murray who died during
his challenge for the British Bantamweight title in Glasgow three years
ago, said that he was shocked to learn of the extent of the drug problem.

Mr Murray said soon after his son's death: "He did not die with a needle in
his arm and he did not die up a back street. He started boxing to keep
himself out of trouble. He knew how to live life to the full and knew when
to train hard."

When told yesterday of the federation's fears about the drug culture
eroding the sport, he said: "There's drugs everywhere these days, but I
can't believe that it has got to the stage that boxers are becoming
involved.

"I don't even know of a boxer that smokes and not many drink because it's a
hard sport and it requires a lot of dedication.

"My Jim got a lot of respect from people for what he did and you don't get
that sort of respect from taking pills or sticking a needle in your arm."

Already experienced in being able to spot the first signs of drug taking
among young boys, Mr NcNair, whose club in Dennistoun has produced many
Scottish and British champions, said that he has seen the problem escalate
over the years.

"We were very naive about drugs six years ago, but our experience, sadly,
has come from some of the boys."

Calton Athletic's director, David Bryce, said: "We know that too many young
people are being enticed into drug-taking.

"We have always realised there was a problem in recognising the early
signs. If we can help the boxing federation steer people away from drugs
and back into the training and discipline of boxing, then we believe we can
help many young men.

"It is important for them to be able to spot the first signs and take
immediate action."