Morrison Refusing to Comment on His Positive HIV Test Result

A day after being informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he had tested positive for HIV, boxer Tommy Morrison sealed himself off in his ranch house outside Jay, Okla., refusing to comment.

Plans have been made to retest Morrison today in the hope that an error was made by Nevada officials.

Morrison was suspended by the Nevada commission hours before his scheduled fight Saturday against Arthur Weathers at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Hotel. Sources said Morrison had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. James Nava, the commission chairman, told the Associated Press that Morrison refused to take the routine pre-fight HIV test on Wednesday based on unspecified religious grounds. Morrison took the test on Thursday.

“I was called and told he did not want to take the test, citing religious beliefs,” Nava said. “I said it was my order as chairman to test or he would not fight.”

The Nevada commission has tested about 1,500 fighters for HIV. Only one previous test came back positive, that one on a boxer later found to be fighting under an assumed name.