Boxing News: Floyd Mayweather received illegal IV fluid before Manny Pacquiao fight
Undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. has reportedly received a banned fluid before his record-breaking fight against Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather took an intravenous injection of saline and vitamins that was prohibited under the guidelines of World Anti-Doping Agency.
According to SB Nation’s Thomas Hauser, Mayweather received two IVs a day before his bout with Pacquiao on May 2. Although the substances contained in the IV were not banned by WADA, IVs are disallowed by the organization because it could “dilute or mask the presence of another substance.”
Employees from United States Anti-Doping Agency, which had been contracted to oversee drug testing for the Mayweather-Pacquiao clash, reportedly went to the house of “Pretty Boy” after the fight’s official weigh-in to conduct a random unannounced drug test. The report stated that the collection agents from USADA found evidence of an IV being administered to Mayweather, which the boxing champ’s medical team confirmed as saline multi-vitamins and Vitamin C.
According to the 2015 WADA Prohibited Substances and Methods List, “Intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50ml per 6 hour period are prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations.”
The report also revealed that Mayweather received an exemption from USADA, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett confirmed USADA does not have authorization to grant such exemption. Bennett also added that only NSAC, which was not notified of the exemption until after it was given, can give exemptions to athlete.
Bennett said the administering of IV at Mayweather’s house is “not acceptable.” He also added that NSAC was not pleased about USADA’s actions and that the US-based agency should not be granting waivers and exemptions to athletes.
“The TUE for Mayweather’s IV - and the IV was administered at Floyd’s house, not in a medical facility, and wasn’t brought to our attention at the time - was totally unacceptable,” Bennett told Hauser. “We have the sole authority to grant any and all TUEs in the state of Nevada.”
Mayweather is expected to retire from boxing after his fight with Haitian-American Andre Berto on Sept. 12. “Money,” who is seeking to match boxing legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record, confirmed that his last fight in his contract with Showtime is going to be the final fight of his illustrious boxing career.
“My ultimate goal is, hopefully we can find the next Floyd Mayweather,” Mayweather told Boxing Junkie. “I’m not breaking that 50-0. Don’t worry about that.”
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