Random drug testing in play for Mayweather, Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao can be randomly drug tested leading up to their May 2 title bout.
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Both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao should leave their schedules open for the next several weeks -- just in case the US Anti-Doping Agency comes knocking on their doors.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the USADA will be tasked with drug testing the two fighters in the lead-up to their historic fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The testing will be unannounced and will include both blood and urine tests, USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart informed the Los Angeles Times. The agency will have the ability to test the fighters through the night of the fight.
If either fighter fails a test, the consequences will be severe: a four-year ban from competition.
"It's a strong statement of the importance of clean and safe competition to have these two fighters voluntarily agree to have a WADA level anti-doping program implemented for this fight," Tygart told the Los Angeles Times. "We commend them for their stand for clean sport and the message it sends to all those who want to compete clean at the highest levels of all sport."
For a while -- during the years when the negotiations between Mayweather and Pacquiao stalled and failed -- drug testing was a heated topic between the two parties, with the two reportedly never agreeing on the same standards.
The issue further heated up when Mayweather accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs. In response, Pacquiao filed a lawsuit against Mayweather and his team. The two sides reached a confidential settlement in September 2012.
Some, including ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas, have hinted that they think Pacquiao has used performance-enhancing drugs in the past. But now, with both sides consenting to these rigorous standards, there should be no doubt that the fans will be getting a fair and honest fight on May 2.
"We've agreed on the USADA testing, and we've agreed to their rules," said Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum. "There's not any issue with Manny or Floyd. They aren't taking performance-enhancing drugs."
