The match-up between Mayweather and Pacquiao could be shelved indefinitely for excessive demands from Mayweather’s camp that Pacquiao should undergo an Olympic style blood testing. It has become a debate on most online boxing sites whether the request is still reasonable. Mayweather Sr. made accusations that Pacman is using steroids. On the other hand, the pound for pound king has never been tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs throughout his career. The NSAC has maintained its position that the Pacman is clear of any steroids every time he fights in Nevada.

The team of Mayweather insists that Pacquiao should subject himself to blood testing under the supervision of USADA to know whether he is using steroids or any banned substances. The steroid testing that they want will be made before the fight which was already rejected by Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum. Pacquiao’s camp agreed for blood testing but the test should be conducted one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight. The failure of both camps to meet an agreement has annoyed many boxing fans. Boxing analysts were also divided on the issue. Some says that Pacquiao’s refusal to take an Olympic style blood testing could be a hint that the 7 division world champion is taking something illegal. Some believes that the demands of Mayweather could be a sign that the former pound-for-pound king is afraid of Pacquiao. Below are some of the statements of officials from boxing organizations and sports writers.

World Boxing Council Secretary General, Rudy Salud said to Philboxing.com that the filing of libel case against the Mayweathers and their promoters is a winnable case. “I’ve been waiting for them (Pacquiao and Arum) to do that. They have all the right to do that and they will win that case. They cannot deny the statements in which they have accused Pacquiao without any evidence. They are caught. No way for them to get out of that.” Salud also said that the Mayweathers have to prove their allegations and can’t force Pacquiao to undergo any test to prove his innocence under any specific system because of the presumption of innocence. Pacquiao can also use the result of his steroid tests from the Nevada State Athletic Commission as evidence.

The WBC President Don Jose Sulaiman told insidesports.ph that he believes Manny Pacquiao is clean. “Manny has had many WBC title fights. He’s always been clean. I know him as a decent, exceptional, clean person and I don’t think it was fair” for such allegations about being on performance-enhancing drugs to be made,” he said during a phone interview. Sulaiman thinks that the allegations were due to Pacman’s decision to leave the Golden Boy Promotions. “They had him before and now he’s not with them and that’s why they attack him this way and it’s not fair,” said Sulaiman.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the media that Manny is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission and in fact supports the effort to keep all athletic disciplines free of drugs because athletes are role models for the youth.

Brad Cooney of 8countnews.com wrote in his article that the decision of Mayweather is unconscionable. He advised Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be quiet and fire the entire team and replace them with people that will advise him properly. “The decisions that the Mayweather camp have made thus far leading up to this train wreck have been unconscionable,” he said.

Brian Wilbur of Boxing Mailbag also asked so many questions on the real intent of the Mayweather’s camp. “Does Floyd have the upper hand over Pacman to arrogantly demand USADA testing? Does Floyd have upper hand over NSAC when it comes to USADA testing?” said Brian. “I’m just wondering why Floyd, in collusion with Golden Boy Promotions, are trying to usurp Nevada State Athletic Commission jurisdiction over the matter of testing boxers?” he added. He also noted why Floyd is making demands where he is only the challenger. For Brian, Pacman has the prerogative to reject the request for blood tests since he is the current champion and should refer the matter to NSAC who has the sole jurisdiction of boxing fights in Las Vegas.

However, there are also some comments that defend the Mayweather’s demand. There are some steroids that can’t be detected by ordinary urine testing. HGH or human growth hormone and other designer steroids are not detected through urine tests. An example is the case of Shane Mosley who admitted to steroid use in previous fights but never failed a steroid test under NSAC. Olympic style blood testing is more reliable in catching performance enhancing drugs. The random test can also ensure that the user can’t time their steroid cycle to prepare for a blood test so if a boxer knew the date of the steroid test he could time his cycles accordingly to avoid detection.

A possible solution, as suggested in Brian’s Boxing Mailbag, is meeting at the middle. “If they allowed random testing up to four days before the fight instead of 30 days as Arum wanted, plus do the blood test directly after the fight, I think that would appease all parties.” It would give Pacquiao enough time to recover from the side effects of giving blood. With this time frame, a user will definitely return a positive result. Floyd Mayweather should accept this set-up if he really wants to fight and Manny Pacquiao should also accept this if he has nothing to hide.

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