Margaret Goodman

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Margaret Goodman
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BornApril 12, 1953
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States
Occupation
  • Neurologist
  • author

Margaret Goodman is a Canadian-American neurologist, anti-doping advocate, columnist, and author. She is best known for her work as a ringside physician and Medical Advisory Chairman while working for the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC),[1][2][3] for being the founder and president of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA),[4][5][6] and for writing a monthly column for The Ring magazine called "The Fight Doctor”.[7]

Biography

Early life and education

Goodman was born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 12, 1953. Her father, Nat Goodman, was a professional musician who played the saxophone and clarinet before becoming a record producer and manager.[2][8] Goodman's parents moved to Los Angeles, California when she was a child. She graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1971, earned a bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1975, and then a medical degree from Chicago Medical School in 1984. After earning her medical degree, Goodman completed her internal medicine internship and residency in neurology at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and UCLA in 1988.[8][9][1]

Nevada State Athletic Commission

Goodman became interested in the sport of boxing in 1992. She was told that a good way to get a job in the sport was to start working amateur events. For a year and a half, Goodman worked for free doing physicals and working the corner at amateur boxing events.[2][1] Goodman started doing neurological consultations for the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in 1993 when they needed a high-profile fighter evaluated.[1] In 1994, a position opened up on the medical staff at NSAC and she got the job. At first they didn't give Goodman any boxing fights to work at, instead assigning her to professional wrestling events. NSAC eventually started giving Goodman assignments at boxing fights, where she became one of the few female ringside physicians in the world. Goodman was appointed as the Medical Advisory Chairman for NSAC by Governor Kenny Guinn in 2001. She was also promoted to chief ringside physician for NSAC in 2004.[2] While working at both of these positions, Goodman was instrumental in creating cost-effective MRI/MRA testing for fighters. This led to Nevada becoming the second state in the United States to institute routine neuroimaging.[9] After MRIs became routine, Goodman said she had a conversation with a prominent boxing promoter who said that promoters were afraid of fights not taking place if abnormalities were found in the scans. Instead of being concerned about the fighter's health, they were more concerned about whether a fight would take place.[10] During Goodman's time as a ringside physician, she became somewhat of a staple of HBO boxing, particularly for her bright red hair.[5]

Trisha Morrison, who is the widow of famous boxer Tommy Morrison, filed a lawsuit in 2014 against Goodman, NSAC, Quest Diagnostics, and Dr. John Hiatt over Tommy's two HIV-positive test results in 1996[11][12] that caused him to retire from boxing.[13] In 2007, Tommy Morrison began to make claims that he was not HIV positive when trying to make a comeback to boxing. He claims to have had multiple tests done showing he was not infected with the virus. Several ringside physicians, including Goodman, questioned whether the blood tested was actually Tommy's. Goodman, Tommy's own doctor, other ringside physicians, and the pathologist at Quest Diagnostics all maintained that the 1996 test results were accurate.[14] Trisha, who is an HIV/AIDS denier, claimed in the lawsuit that the tests were wrong and Tommy did not have HIV, that the inaccurate results defamed Tommy, that the defendants are hiding evidence, and sought 110 million dollars in damages.[15][16][17] Tommy's mother and ex-wife dispute this and claim that he had "full-blown AIDS".[18] The lawsuit revealed that when Tommy went to rehab in 1989, he admitted to a psychiatrist that he was HIV positive. The psychiatrist provided a letter and the original rehab intake form to the court.[13][19][20] Tommy also told his ex-wife Dawn that he had HIV.[21][13] The judge ruled that Goodman and Hiatt were not liable for anything related to the tests because neither had been employed at their respective organizations when the tests were done, and that the tests were done accurately.[22]

Goodman resigned from her position as chief ringside physician in 2005 after months of infighting at NSAC over stricter safety measures because two licensed fighters in Nevada had died, and two had suffered life altering injuries in a year.[23] Also Goodman's significant other Dr. Edwin “Flip” Homansky, who was also a ringside physician for NSAC and part of its committee, was let go from his position. During Homansky's time at NSAC, the committee became much stricter on whether a fighter was fit to compete, angering many promoters.[7] His work on making testing stricter included things like mandating testing for HIV and anabolic steroids.[24] Two months before Homansky was let go, he testified about having knowledge of "doctor mills" in Mexico where some fighters would go to pay for an MRI of a different person, then pass it on to NSAC as if it was theirs. Goodman remained Medical Advisory Chairman until her term was up.[7]

Voluntary Anti-Doping Association

In 2011, after severing ties with NSAC, Goodman and Homansky began working on creating an independent organization where fighters could voluntarily be drug tested with similar standards to organizations like WADA and USADA, but much more affordable. This became the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, or VADA as it's commonly known.[4][25][6] They hope that with it being voluntary instead of mandatory like others, as more fighters join the testing pool it would put pressure on the rest of combat sports to clean itself up. Goodman has also said that their testing would be much more comprehensive and would cover things that are more applicable when dealing with a fighter than what the state commissions usually test for. For example, she has said that the routine drug screening that commissions give fighters doesn't test for EPO but tests for many other substances that aren't applicable to a fighter being fit to fight or them cheating.[10][26] Since the creation of VADA, almost 200 fighters have joined their testing pool. Notable boxers and MMA fighters include Wladimir Klitschko,[27] Anthony Joshua,[28] Tyson Fury,[29][30] Deontay Wilder,[30] Ben Askren,[31] Georges St-Pierre,[32] Manny Pacquiao,[33] and Rory MacDonald.[34][35]

Writing

Goodman wrote a monthly column for The Ring magazine called "The Fight Doctor" for eight years from 2004 to 2012.[7][26]

Goodman co-authored and edited the book Ringside and Training Principles which was released by NSAC in April 2001, which is primarily aimed at educating fighters and trainers on the dangers of boxing and how to minimize them.[36][37] She is also the author of the 2014 medical suspense thriller Death in Vegas. It follows a neurologist named Dr. Olivia Norris whose brother, a rising boxing star, is tragically injured during a fight. Norris then begins an investigation into whether her brother was given proper care and the dangerous world of illegal boxing.[38]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ecksel, Robert (2004-12-13). "Dr. Margaret Goodman Makes a House Call". The Sweet Science. Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "'I realised that horses were being tested for PEDs more often and more thoroughly than boxers.' Margaret Goodman enters the Hall of Fame". Boxing News. 25 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Cowart, Leigh. "GSP Is Being Honest; It's The Best Thing That Could Happen To Fighting". Deadspin. Archived from the original on 2019-08-25. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 writer, Lance Pugmire Lance Pugmire is the Los Angeles Times’ former boxing/MMA/Ducks beat (2016-05-07). "World Boxing Council starts Clean Boxing Program". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fowlkes, Ben (2020-04-30). "Q&A: Dr. Margaret Goodman on UFC 249 and her concerns for event officials". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "These Former Ringside Doctors Want a Clean Fight". vegasmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lang, Arne K. (2017-06-02). "Dr. Margaret Goodman and VADA: Devil or Angel in the PED Era?". The Sweet Science. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Outside the Ring: Margaret Goodman - Boxing.com". www.boxing.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Dr. Margaret Goodman IBHOF inductee". International Boxing Hall of Fame.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "What's not said about drug testing in combat sports | FightOpinion.com – Your Global Connection to the Fight Industry". Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  11. ↑ Springer, Steve (1996-02-15). "Morrison Awaiting HIV Test Results". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  12. ↑ "BOXING;Morrison Speaks and Proves Full of Remorse (Published 1996)". 1996-02-16. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "EXCLUSIVE: Court Records Reveal Tommy Morrison Boxed While HIV Positive For 7 Years". lawandcrime.com. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  14. ↑ "Morrison Says Error in H.I.V. Test Hurt Career (Published 2007)". 2007-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  15. ↑ "Morrison v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated et al, No. 2:2014cv01207 - Document 101 (D. Nev. 2016)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  16. ↑ Media Group, Lineup. "Rocky V star, boxer Tommy Morrison's widow says it is "completely false" that her husband had HIV/AIDS in exclusive interview with Big John McCarthy on Let's Get It On podcast". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  17. ↑ "Deadspin | Court Documents: Tommy Morrison Boxed Professionally For Seven Years While HIV Positive". deadspin.com. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  18. ↑ "Merrill: Tommy Morrison's latest big fight". ESPN.com. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  19. ↑ "Tommy Morrison Rehab Intake Interview | PDF". Scribd. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  20. ↑ "Tommy Morrison Psychiatrist Letter | PDF | Finance & Money Management | Law". Scribd. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  21. ↑ "Dawn Brady Deposition Excerpt 04-21-16 | PDF". Scribd. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  22. ↑ "Morrison v. Inc, Case No. 2:14-cv-01207-RFB-PAL | D. Nev., Judgment, Law, casemine.com". Casemine. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  23. ↑ "In Debate Over Safety, No Neutral Corner (Published 2005)". The New York Times. 2005-12-03. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  24. ↑ Weeks, Elmo. "'Fight Doctor' to be inducted into Hall of Fame". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  25. ↑ "A new drug testing option soon for UFC & boxing | FightOpinion.com – Your Global Connection to the Fight Industry". Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Dr. Margaret Goodman of VADA on TRT, PEDs, and Fighter Mental Health - FightMedicine.NET". FightMedicine.NET. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  27. ↑ "Wladimir Klitschko to Be Tested By VADA for Anthony Joshua Fight". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  28. ↑ Corby, Donagh (2023-09-01). "Anthony Joshua's final drug test results released after opponent tests positive". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  29. ↑ Rafael, Dan. "Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury fails second VADA test for cocaine". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Fury vs. Wilder: Both Boxers Pass All VADA Tests, Confirms WBC". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  31. ↑ Chiappetta, Mike (2012-08-31). "Ben Askren Discusses VADA and Dana White's Stance on Expanded Drug Testing". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  32. ↑ Heinis, John. "GSP Posts Letters Detailing VADA Testing Results on Twitter". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  33. ↑ "Manny Pacquiao's PED Drug Test Results Revealed Before Mario Barrios Fight". Sports Illustrated. 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  34. ↑ Chiappetta, Mike (2012-08-01). "VADA: Both B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald Enrolled For Random Drug Testing". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  35. ↑ "FIGHTERS". VADA. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  36. ↑ Bourne, Nicholas; Todd, Jan; Todd, Terry (July 2002). "THE COLD WAR'S IMPACT ON THE EVOLUTION OF TRAINING THEORY IN BOXING" (PDF). Iron Game History. 7 (2): 27.
  37. ↑ "Center Devoted to Combat Sports Safety Receives Backing From Champion and Legendary Trainer". www.tntsports.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  38. ↑ Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred: Dr. Margaret Goodman On Her Novel 'Death In Vegas', retrieved 2025-08-10

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