Jarrell Miller Talks: VADA Mistake, Elbow Stem Cell Shot, A.J., Eddie Hearn and More
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller, trying to stay in the mix, recently told the online betting site bonuscodebets.co.uk his need to address an old elbow injury so he could fight at 100 percent against Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight championship in 2019. He said it was the direct cause of his positive drug tests which were administered by VADA (the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency), which came up positive for GW501516, EPO and HGH, in the aftermath of Miller receiving an allowable stem cell shot (in an attempt) for medical healing purposes. The whole test result was a mistake and a misunderstanding, according to Miller. Given the extreme nature of the coronavirus pandemic, Miller’s status in terms of being able to return to the ring, like all other professional boxers, remains on hold. It remains to be seen what options and alternative appeal roads are still available to Miller to address his test results again, given the ongoing nature of the current coronavirus pandemic situation, which has put all amateur and professional sports on indefinite hiatus.
“Hard work is number one, there are no shortcuts. Sometimes you are going to get lazy and you don’t do your homework and that’s when it’s going to cost you – like it did for me. You’ve got to ask tons of questions, be careful who you surround yourself with, and who you deal with, be 100 percent genuine and honest with yourself and your mistakes, to get better, and to be better. You need to know when to move from certain situations to the next, and always putting yourself in a positive frame of mind, because negativity only draws negativity. The more you are around negative people and negative energy the more you’re going to be brought down We were going to train all the way from January to June 2019 to get ready for A.J. (Anthony Joshua), I was dealing with a recurring issue with my elbow. I was dealing with VADA, and going to see their specialists and doctors (as required) I was seeing two different specialists and a psychiatrist, which VADA wanted me to go see, to make sure whatever (substances) I was taking was a part of the protocol.”
Andy Ruiz replaced Miller and won Joshua’s title. Miller is still haunted by the golden opportunity which slipped through his fingers, Miller remains to determine to rectify the wrong. He may get fully reinstated anyway in 2020, though questions on Miller remain.
“It was an injury I had for a long time. I just wanted to be 100 percent for the fight, 100 percent healthy, so we looked at alternatives to get things done and one thing led to another. I was seen by the doctors and by the time I got signed off to do certain things towards the injury I took a stem cell shot, which is known to have healing properties that are very strong and that’s when we had the positive tests of those components. I begged for a third test after the other drug compounds that came out – a week before, I was a clean guy. That’s when I came out said this is where I got it from. It was a big misunderstanding, but people on my team will understand that. I called VADA. I called the (their) doctors and said listen, this is what’s going on. They could tell you (the information I conveyed at that time). I was open throughout camp, what I was doing, all of my supplements, and even they were kind of shocked (I got suspended over the VADA testing result) because I was so vocal on doing the right thing. That’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes. It was a learning experience, and it taught me a lot about myself, the people that I have around me.”
Miller remained eloquent in his statements, and optimistic he will have the opportunity to clear his name once sports result. That could take a while. He urged boxing fans not to jump to conclusions, and give him the benefit of the doubt.
“When (current British heavyweight contender) Dillian White got in (VADA testing) trouble, I said (to everyone not to) don’t jump to conclusions (he was eventually cleared to fight). You got to do your homework. 99 percent of fighters (boxers) are talking straight bullsh-t, and they have no structure in what they’re saying. I am (Miller claims to be ranked) number two in the world. The only reason I am not number one is because I don’t have no (heavyweight world title) belt, I know I am a better fighter than all of these guys. I’m better than A.J., I’m better than (Iron Mike) Tyson, (and) I’m better than Deontay Wilder. I only call myself number two because I don’t have that (world title) belt (yet). I’m going to be world champ (in the foreseeable future). I always try to be someone who I would look up to. What I’ve learned is if you understand where the bad guy is coming from, that’s when you understand life. Because nobody on top of their game is really the good guy. They may look like the model citizen, but there’s always something going on. Where I come from, 80 percent of the time the villain always wins, because when you do everything by the book, you leave your hands tied. You have to be that person who sees outside the box. If multimillionaires play by all the rules, they wouldn’t be where they are at (in the world we live in). ”
Miller took a potshot at promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, whose fighter Anthony Joshua is scheduled to fight mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on June 20, 2020, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in defense of his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
“With some of these promoters like Eddie Hearn, they say these crazy, outrageous things. They don’t play by the rules all the time. That’s a fact. You have people that have a bigger following than me that (and they) are going to put their personal story first. That’s what Eddie did with Matchroom (Boxing). He was under fire from DAZN. I was their scapegoat. Big businesses and corporations always find a scapegoat, so why not blame it on the big brash American (me)? Make him (me) look the bad guy. Meanwhile he [Eddie Hearn] can run for the clear (while fighters like me get the blame and have to try to patch fences).”
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