Zambian female boxer Esther Phiri this morning took her coach and promoters by surprise when she spoke out about her frustrations of fighting in a country without strict anti-doping rules.

Esther will this Saturday take on Kentucky raised American pugilist Terry Blair at Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka for the Women International Boxing Association (WIBA).

At a press briefing organised by her main sponsors National Milling, Esther took up the opportunity to talk about what she described as the reluctant boxing board for not ensuring that visiting boxers are drug free.

“I have three things to say, firstly I want to say that this fight will be different, I don't want to fight like the way I fought Belinda (Laracounte),” she said referring to the contentious fight that saw her defend the Women International Boxing Federation (WIBF) World featherweight title from the American in controversial circumstances.

“Some American boxers use drugs. It means I am a very good boxer because I fight without any drugs, it hurts me and I just have to say it,” said the 25-year-old Southpaw to a surprised audience.

Another thing, I want to ask you my coach (Anthony Mwamba) and my boss (National Milling managing director Peter Cottan), you have to be very strict and make sure that does not happen. Also to the (boxing) board, they have to be very careful and make sure that they introduce anti doping tests before the fight,” Esther said.

Sentiments from the normally quiet Esther attracted questions from journalists who wanted to know what the promoters of the fight would do about the raised concerns.

Cottan avoided the question and referred it to coach Mwamba who was also visibly caught off-guard.
“Well it’s not up to us to ensure that, its WIBA and the local board our job is to remind them to do so before the fight, “Said Mwamba.

Esther is looking for a sixth successive title although her April outing to Kenya were she won the Global Boxing Council (GBC) lightweight title over Philippine's Viparat Lasuwan has not yielded her a belt to date.

Earlier at the briefing, Cottan announced that only K110 million out of the budgeted K400 million was remaining to meet the costs for the weekend's fight.