The People’s Champ is calling for a rematch
FILIPINO boxer Manny Pacquiao, 36, called for punishment and a rematch on Friday, September 11 after his rival Floyd Mayweather was accused of violating anti-doping rules before their long-awaited May 2nd “Fight of the Century.”
The eight-division world champion, who lost to Mayweather by unanimous decision in Las Vegas, urged Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) officials to “impose the appropriate sanction” on his opponent.
Mayweather, 38, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have both insisted that the boxer’s actions were legal after news broke out that he was injected with a mix of saline and vitamins–a banned substance mix, under the official guidelines–a day before the match, ESPNsaid.
Though the substances contained in the IV were not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whose standards USADA says it follows, the fact that they were given intravenously–through a vein infusion–was not allowed.
According to an SB Nation report, USADA, which had been contracted by both Mayweather and Pacquiao to conduct random drug testing for their fight, sent collection agents to Mayweather’s house in Las Vegas the night before the fight to conduct an unannounced drug test.
SB Nation said Mayweather’s medical team told the collection agents that the IV–which reportedly included a 250-milliliter mixture of saline and multivitamins and a 500-milliliter mixture of saline and Vitamin C–was being given to Mayweather “for rehydration purposes following the weigh-in.”
USADA reportedly did not inform the NSAC about the IV until May 21, when it sent correspondence to commission officials and Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, notifying them of the retroactive therapeutic-use exemption, which was allowed in the fighters’ contract for drug-testing protocol, ESPN reported.
However, when the commission and Top Rank requested more information about it, they learned Mayweather had not applied for the exemption until May 19. It was granted May 20, the report said.
This week, the USADA disputed the report on September 10 with a statement saying Mayweather had applied for and was granted the exemption.
“Although Mr. Mayweather’s application was not approved until after his fight with Mr. Pacquiao and all test results were reported, Mr. Mayweather did disclose the infusion to USADA in advance of the IV being administered to him,” its statement read. “Furthermore, once the TUE [therapeutic-use exemption] was granted, the NSAC and Pacquiao were immediately notified even though the practice is not prohibited under NSAC rules.”
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett disputed, saying the USADA does not have authorization to grant an exemption. “Only the Commission, which was not notified of the exemption until after it was given, can give an athlete an exemption,” he argued.
“The TUE for Mayweather’s IV–and the IV was administered at Floyd’s house, not in a medical facility, and wasn’t brought to our attention at the time–was totally unacceptable,” Bennett said. “I’ve made it clear to Travis Tygart [CEO of USADA] that this should not happen again. We have the sole authority to grant any and all TUEs in the state of Nevada.”
Pacquiao, who on May 2 was denied a request to be injected with a painkiller (to ease the pain on his rotator cuff injury), was suspicious. According to AFP, he questioned why the USADA only informed the NSAC about the infusion three weeks after the fight, by which Mayweather had already received an exemption from the USADA.
“Are they hiding something? For the sake of fairness and for the good of the sport, NSAC must be consistent,” Pacquiao recently told reporters at his home in the southern Philippines.
“If needed, the NSAC should impose the appropriate sanction to sustain its credibility and to show the world they did not give preferential treatment to the Mayweather camp,” he continued.
SB Nation reported that Mayweather had broken WADA regulations by having the vitamin and saline mix infusion at his Las Vegas home on May 1, the day before the fight.
WADA guidelines say IV infusions are prohibited because they can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs, increase plasma volume levels, and dilute the presence of other substances.
A source from the USADA argued that Mayweather, who obtained a therapeutic use exemption, did not commit any offense.
Doping and drug-related allegations have been at the center of the long-running feud between both boxers, which has far from subsided, months after Mayweather won the World Boxing Organization welterweight title. The May 2 match was also one of the most expensive sports events in boxing history, with a record US Pay-Per-View revenue of $400 million.
Pacquiao demands rematch
Pacquiao claims he was treated unfairly because the Nevada body refused to let him use a USADA-approved painkiller (Toradol) before the fight, when he was carrying a [not-yet disclosed] shoulder injury. The NSAC said they denied Pacquiao’s request because it was not made in a timely manner, and he had not previously disclosed the injury.
“This is why I want a rematch. One without any injury and with fair play. No favoritism. Not one where the Mayweather camp gets to dictate all the terms and conditions,” he said.
The big fight took years to become reality, in part because of Mayweather’s insistence that Pacquiao comply with a strict drug-testing regime.
Not long afterwards, Mayweather accused Pacquiao of using PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs), prompting a lawsuit which was settled [in seven figures] out of court.
He has also branded the Filipino boxer a “sore loser” for revealing his torn rotator cuff injury, which later received surgery, only after the fight.
“Truth finally came out and I was vindicated,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “The Mayweather camp accused me of using PEDs. Now look what happened.”
“I find it ironic,” Michael Koncz, an adviser to Pacquiao, told ESPN. “We tried to get an injection that was totally legal before the fight and the commission slams us and then this thing with Mayweather happens.”
“We need to fight in Vegas again so I don’t want to make many more comments,” Koncz added. “Maybe the best thing for Floyd to do is have a rematch with Manny.”
But the undefeated Mayweather, who will next take on Andre Berto on Sept. 12 for his final bout before retirement, has insisted multiple times that he is “clean.”
“As already confirmed by the USADA, I did not commit any violations of the Nevada or USADA drug testing guidelines. I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing,” Mayweather stated.
“Let’s not forget that I was the one six years ago who insisted on elevating the level of drug testing for all my fights,” he continued. “As a result, there is more drug testing and awareness of its importance in the sport of boxing today than ever before.”
“I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause.”
However, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who is also Pacquiao’s promoter, was not buying it.
“USADA has a lot of explaining to do,” Arum said.
