Mayweather's TUE raises questions; Pacquiao wants answers - Ring TV

Image credit: Al Bello and Chris Hyde MANILA, Philippines – The recent controversy surrounding Floyd Mayweather Jr. and WADA-banned intravenous infusion therapy has Manny Pacquiao asking questions and it seems he wants them answered in a second fight with the pound-for-pound star. The Filipino boxer told reporters in his hometown of General Santos City that he felt the Nevada State Athletic Commission should take action against Mayweather following a report by Thomas Hauser that claimed the United States Anti-Doping Agency had found evidence of two IVs containing Vitamin C, multivitamins and saline at Mayweather’s home the day before their May 2 super-fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mayweather won the fight by unanimous decision. The report claims Mayweather didn’t apply for a therapeutic use exemption until 18 days after the weigh-in, May 19, and that USADA didn’t inform the NSAC or Pacquiao’s camp until May 21. “Are they hiding something? For the sake of fairness and for the good of the sport, NSAC must be consistent,” the eight-division champion Pacquiao said. The substances Mayweather allegedly was infused with are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency but intravenous therapy “of more than 50 mL per 6 hour period except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations” is on WADA’s “Prohibited Substances and Methods List.” The total volume of the two IVs was 750 milliliters.  According to USADA’s website, IVs are disallowed while an athlete is in the program because they can “increase their plasma volume levels; b) mask the use of a Prohibited Substance; c) distort the values of their Athlete Biological Passport.” The developments come as an ironic twist after Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) was denied use of the legal anti-inflammatory Toradol for his right shoulder by the NSAC, which had been injured during training for the fight.  “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,” Pacquiao said. “That 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. Pacquiao had earlier said he felt “vindicated” by the report detailing Mayweather’s anti-doping violations. Pacquiao had settled a defamation lawsuit in 2012 against Mayweather’s camp after Mayweather insinuated on several occasions that Pacquiao had used performance-enhancing drugs. USADA issued a statement on Thursday regarding what it described as “inaccurate news reports.” The statement says that USADA had been informed ahead of time about the infusions but admitted that the TUE was not granted until after the fight. It stated in several instances that IVs are not banned by the NSAC but did not address criticism that a retroactive TUE for an IV infusion that wasn’t for “situations of medical emergency or clinical time constraints” was inappropriate according to WADA guidelines. The statement was sufficient enough for Mayweather (48-0, 26 knockouts), who faces Andre Bertothis Saturday in what he says will be his final fight. “As already confirmed by the USADA Statement, I did not commit any violations of the Nevada or USADA drug testing guidelines,” Mayweather said in a statement. “I follow and have always the rules of Nevada and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing. “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. As a result, there is more drug testing and awareness of its importance in the sport of boxing than ever before. “I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause.” Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanSongalia.

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Mayweather's TUE raises questions; Pacquiao wants answers - Ring TV:



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