Filipino boxing icon and eight-time world division champion Manny Pacquiao feels vindicated following reports that his erstwhile rival for this generation's pound-per-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., underwent an illegal IV infusion a day before their mega bout in May. Pacquio is demanding a rematch against Mayweather Jr.
"I was vindicated. The Mayweather camp had been accusing me of using (performance-enhancing drugs). Look at what happened. It turns out he's the one who violated the rules set by the NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission)," Pacquiao said.
On Wednesday, SB Nation reported that Mayweather took an intravenous injection (IV) of saline and vitamins, a procedure which is banned under the World Anti Doping Agency procedure.
In the SB Nation article, it was explained that the substances injected to Mayweather were not banned under WADA rules. However, the intravenous procedure is prohibited because it can hide or dilute the presence of another substance that is already in the system of the recipient, including performance-enhancing drugs.
According to the report, the camp of Mayweather has admitted to USADA agents that the pound-per-pound king was given an IV containing a 250-milliliter mixture of saline and multivitamins and a 500-milliliter mixture of saline and Vitamin C to rehydrate the boxer.
However, the USADA issued a statement on Thursday denying that the IV and the exemption given to Mayweather Jr., have violated any rules.
"As was already publicly reported in May of this year by the (NSAC), Mr. Mayweather applied for and was granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) by Usada for an IV solution of saline and vitamins that was administered prior to his May 2 fight against Manny Pacquiao," the USADA said in a statement. "It is simply absurd to suggest that we would ever compromise our integrity for any sport or athlete."
Floyd Jr., also issued a statement denying violations of the USADA and the Nevada drug testing procedures. The boxing champ said, "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."
Still Pacquiao questioned the release of the TUE exemption that was released three days after their controversial bout called the "Fight of the Century." "Why did the exemption come out three weeks after the fight? Are they hiding something?" Pacquiao said. "For the sake of fairness and for the good of the sport, NSAC must be consistent."
The Filipino boxing champion also questioned why Floyd was given a TUE exemption and allowed to underwent an IV infusion while he was denied for a TUE for a legal painkiller for his injured shoulder that forced him to fight under excruciating pain.
Pacquiao added, "Imagine, I had to endure terrible pain in my right shoulder from the fourth to 12th round just so I wouldn't fail in the eyes of my fans. We followed the NSAC rules so that even my mineral water and energy vitamins weren't allowed in my dressing room."
He insisted that under the new development, he deserved a "fair" rematch with Floyd Jr., -"one where I am not injured and fair play is practiced so that no one is trying to put one over the other."
"Let's not have terms dictated solely by the Mayweather camp," Pacquiao added. "It doesn't matter if we get the lower split of the purse as long as in other aspects of the fight, everything is fair."
Bob Arum is Outraged
Top Rank CEO and boxing promoter Bob Arum said he was disgusted over the latest development and condemned by the USADA has allowed Floyd Mayweather Jr., to dictate the terms of his drug testing procedures.
"What comments could I have? It speaks for itself, it's disgusting," Arum told Boxing Scene. "We weren't aware of it till we got notification sometime around May 21st but there was a confidentiality clause and we couldn't say anything," Arum commented on reports that Mayweather Jr., underwent IV infusion a day before the fight night with Pacquiao.
"I'd have to consult with my attorneys. I'm not going to just file a protest which is going to go no place just to file a protest to make a grandstand play. If my attorneys say that we have merit to a protest we can accomplish something this far after the date, then we would do it," said the Arum, himself a lawyer as he nixed the idea of filing a protest. "Now, I haven't practiced law in a long time, my seat-of-the-pants reactions - there's nothing we can do, realistically."
