MANILA, Philippines – After all the public allegations about Manny Pacquiao's performance-enhancing drug (PED) use, Floyd Mayweather Jr finds himself in hot water as a circulating report claims that the unbeaten American boxer received an illegal intravenous injection prior to the superfight against the Filipino fighter in May to help with dehydration.
According to an article by SB Nation’s Thomas Hauser, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) agents found evidence that Mayweather used two IVs that contained multi-vitamins and Vitamin C, but IVs are disallowed because it can “dilute or mask the presence of another substance.”
USADA visited Mayweather’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to conduct a random drug test after the bout’s weigh-in and discovered IVs. The story points out that the substances are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which sets the standards for anti-doping testing, but that the injection of them is banned.
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) executive director Bob Bennett told SB Nation that USADA did not clarify whether Mayweather was receiving an injection when the collection agents came to his luxurious abode.
The report further claims that nearly 3 weeks after the blockbuster showdown, USADA granted Mayweather a retroactive therapeutic-use exemption to receive IV injections, but the anti-doping organization conveyed to NSAC that boxing’s pound-for-pound king had not applied for exception until 18 days after the 12-round encounter with Pacquiao, which he won by unanimous decision.
The situation is even more interesting since Pacquiao was denied an injection of Toradol before the bout for his torn rotator cuff because the request to the NSAC was not made in a timely manner.
(READ: Injections could’ve numbed Pacquiao to Mayweather’s punches – commission)
Pacquiao had suggested a $5-million fine if either pugilist tested positive for PEDs, but Mayweather's camp surprisingly declined.
Mayweather is gearing up for what could be his farewell fight on September 13 (September 12 in US) versus Andre Berto as he attempts to match Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record.
For his part, Pacquiao recently expressed his eagerness to get back to the ring as he declared that his injured shoulder is totally healed. – Rappler.com