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Mayweather
vs. Pacquiao In Jeopardy As Manny Refuses To Comply With
United States Anti Doping Drug Test Procedure As Requested
By Floyd
The mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao
is now in jeopardy after Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of
Mayweather Promotions, learned today that Manny Pacquiao is
refusing to comply with Olympic style drug testing as
outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping
Agency (USADA) and as requested by Mayweather's management
to ensure fair play and sportsmanship by both fighters.
Early today Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions,
was contacted by Top Rank President Todd duBoef, who
informed Schaefer that Pacquiao would not agree to have his
blood taken within 30-days of the bout based on the
fighter's superstition of testing so close to a fight.
Schaefer commented, "Todd told me that Pacquiao has
difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so
close to the fight. He, Pacquiao, would only agree to have
blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after
the fight."
Olympic style drug testing involves random sampling of the
athlete's blood and urine prior to and after the fight. The
USADA procedure includes both blood and urine sampling so
that all banned substances, some of which do not show up in
urine alone, are tested for thoroughly.
"It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's
representatives, particularly since, as of today, both
parties had worked out all other issues related to this
fight," said Schaefer. "Team Mayweather is certainly
surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would
refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already
agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes
such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps,
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."
Mayweather, who was informed of Pacquiao's reluctance
shortly after Schaefer received word of the impasse, feels
Pacquiao has to explain himself immediately or be faced with
accusations from the media and the public regarding his own
status as a clean and drug free athlete.
"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken,
because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said
Mayweather. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is
our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at
the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and
it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same. It
leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I
would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is
either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his
mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good
enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed
by USADA."
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions said,"We hope
that Manny will do the right thing and agree to the testing
as it is an egregious act to deny the testing and hence,
deny the millions of fans the right to see this amazing
fight. We just want to make sure there is a level playing
field in a sport that is a man-to-man contest that relies on
strength and ability. I still hope this decision is coming
from someone in Pacquiao's camp and not Manny himself as it
would be a shame that an athlete of his stature and who
represents his whole country would not be able to show the
public or his fellow athletes that he agrees to the highest
standards in sports competition."
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