ON PAC’S BLOOD TESTING, I STAND ALONE HERE!
Los Angeles, CA– A solid majority of my Ring Talk colleagues and I agree to disagree on a number of topics, in particular this whole Manny Paquiao (51-3-1, 38 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) blood testing debacle. It has been getting the attention of a high volume of readers as evidenced by the number of comments generated when a story addresses this issue. In reference to the issue of testing I highly disagree with my cohorts, mainly Pedro Fernandez, Francis Martel, and Jarred Woods. Manny Paquiao should not be considered a cheater because he refused the US Anti Doping Agency drug testing protocol (which includes random blood and urine testing) proposed by Floyd Mayweather, not the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The fact is Paquiao agreed to random urine testing (they couldn’t agree on the blood testing). That wasn’t good enough for Floyd, Pedro, Frances, Jarrad, Brian or Paulie Malignaggi, two of whom box, or have boxed, who feel Pacman is cheating and I’m naive.
THE WRITERS & SOME FIGHTERS SAY I’M WRONG!
What makes no sense here is if Floyd was so concerned with the idea of random testing in the first place, why agree to a 14 day window? If the whole philosophy is that unless we test randomly we are inviting the opportunity for PED users to cycle the drugs out of their system, why not take a hard stance? It appears to me that Mayweather’s drug demands had more to do with not wanting to fight the Filipino, and my personal belief is he really had no intention of fighting Pacquiao; well at least not right now.
MAYBE LAYMEN LIKE ME DON’T REALIZE THE ADVANTAGE
What I fail to understand is how can what is quite possibly the biggest fight in boxing be halted because Floyd won’t fight without this stringent testing? USADA uses both blood and urine testing in their protocol. The idea that Paquaio is some sort of cheater or hiding something when he agreed to random urine testing, a protocol that USADA practices is somewhat confusing to me. The fact that Mayweather demanded blood testing as well might be considered honorable, but not exactly necessary. If you put a shoe on the other foot, Mayweather could have decided to agree to the random urine testing and have it done by the USADA and the fight would be signed, sealed and delivered.
DID A LITTLE RESEARCH HERE FOLKS
In 2003 the USADA requested a grant for $562,175 to improve urine testing in a research project for “Improving Urine testing for Endogenous Steroids by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry.” The grant proposal end date was 2005. When inquiring about blood testing on the website, I couldn’t find any reference to blood testing, besides the fact that is administered but in regards to it’s overall effectiveness that remains to be seen. The facts are USADA has spent money to do research to improve their methods of urine testing to be more effective in detecting testosterone, and I find it unfair to Manny Paquiao to call him a cheater when the USADA themselves have attempted to improve their urine testing protocol.
THEY TOOL A LOT OF BLOOD!
Last night on Mayweather/Mosley 24/7, a four part HBO series that is following the fighters from now until their highly anticipated WBA welterweight (147 lbs) championship bout May 1st, viewers got to see first hand the phases of USADA’s drug testing. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather both agreed to the both the blood and urine portions of the USADA random drug testing protocol which Manny Paquaio refused. Part of the issue of Manny’s refusal was because he felt that drawing blood while training would make him weak. Critics want to make it appear that they are only drawing a drop of blood and that the notion of him being weak is illegitimate. From what was witnessed on 24/7 that is not the case. When the testers came to the Big Bear to test Shane Mosley, the vials shown contained a considerable amount of Mosley’s blood. As of the broadcast Shane had been tested 4 separate times already. Whether or not you believe Pacman is afraid of needles or he gets weak by drawing blood, in my honest opinion it seemed like a lot of blood, and actually made me somewhat nauseous knowing that they were drawing that much blood and would be doing it regularly. I understand that 30-40 million dollars are at stake here. However isn’t Manny supposed to be concerned about winning the fight? If Manny says he feels weak from drawing blood, and from what was observed this isn’t a thimble of blood, I believe he has a point. Mosley (who looked weak and drained after drawing the blood), had no choice but to take the tests because there is a cloud of suspicion on him from the BALCO steroid scandal. If anyone in boxing should have to go through the scrutiny it’s guys like Mosley, Roy Jones (54-7, 40 KOs) and other fighters who either have admitted steroid/PED use or tested positive. The finger is being pointed at the wrong guy here; at least for the time being or until any evidence comes out on the contrary.
Kevin Perry