Professional boxing and combat sport in general is different to any other sport.
In that, it’s fighting another person, plain and simple.
When you consider athletes who use illegal performance enhancing substances to run a bit faster. Or hit a ball with a stick a little further, it pales in comparison to fighting.
For that reason, many within boxing and other combat sport fields have spoken of how penalties for fighters using them should be different.
Given the grave consequences that can be done to a fighter’s health.
Mike Tyson said the following on the subject:
Many appear to agree with him.