Drug cheats should be banned for life says Frampton

If you fail a drug test in boxing you should be banned for life, according to WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion of the World Carl Frampton.

The first Irish fighter to unify titles at his chosen weight believes all sports need to be strict and stringent on the issue, but claims boxing in particular has to be particularly harsh on drug cheats.

Frampton was speaking in Manchester ahead of a Question of Sport appearance when asked about tennis player Maria Sharapova,  who stunned the tennis world by admitting she failed a test during January’s Australian Open for the banned substance Meldonium, a drug which she said she had taken on medical advice for 10 years.

Speaking to the BBC, the Jackal said: “We need to be very stringent and strict with ourselves and to make mistakes, especially at the highest level, I don’t know, I don’t agree with it.

“Coming from a sport that I am in – where people can potentially lose their lives – I look at drug taking as a complete no-no.

“And if you fail a drug test – especially in my sport – you should be banned for life,” the Belfast boxer said.