Mar 22 2010
Pacquiao + Mayweather + Mosley + Boxing = Steroids
Boxing does not want to be left behind in steroid controversies. Although the use of performance enhancers is not yet considered to be rampant as compared to other sports such as the major league and football, boxing is now in the limelight for steroids. The allegations of steroid use against Manny Pacquiao just don’t want to die down. Shane Mosley’s previous use of anabolic steroids still matters in his latest fight on May 1. Mosley admitted in a federal inquiry that he used the Clear in 2003. Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is claiming to be free of any illegal substance in his body, is now asking every boxer who wants to fight him to undergo rigid Olympic style steroid testing.
People close to these boxers are also making the issue more complicated. Coach and trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. still insists that he believes Manny Pacquiao is on steroids. The accusations that prompted Pacquiao’s camp to file defamation charges against the Mayweathers. Most boxing analysts, however, are not buying all these allegations. They see it as a mere hype to sell his son’s fight or it could be a tactic to avoid the most awaited match between his son and Pacquaio. If you may ask what was his latest comment on the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. Here are some of his statements published in the Examiner. “That was not a good fight, Clottey and the other guy…What’s His Name, you know who I mean…After the fight, the only one talking spit about my son was the old Joke Coach, Freddie Roach. Pacquiao wanted to talk about fighting Shane Mosley. It was obvious that Pacquiao was fighting a guy with no skill.”
When asked about Pacquaio’s steroid use, Mayweather Sr. said I am entitled to speak on what I think, on my opinion. I will say this, if Pacquiao is using those roids, it won’t help him against my son. I got a poem on that and it goes, ‘Roids don’t mean spit if you can’t hit.’ And Pacquiao will never hit my son if they fight.
Mayweather Sr. also insinuates that the camp of Pacquiao especially Bob Arum doesn’t want a match between the two pound for pound king. “I keep hearing that Arum does not want my son to fight Pacquiao. I don’t know for sure that it is true but that’s the word going around you know. That’s my understanding, somebody said there was some newspaper article but I didn’t see it.” He also added, “Look how they wanted the weight clause and asked for a $10 million per pound penalty. My son gave it to them and they still turned down the fight. Now what does that tell you?”
Now to make the May 1 event more interesting, representatives for Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, and Golden Boy Promotions held a conference last week to announce the particulars on the Olympic style drug testing for the two fighters. The US Anti-Doping Agency headed by Travis Tygart will conduct unannounced, unlimited blood and urine testing for both boxers before and after the fight. This is the first time in boxing where an independent agency is hired to conduct steroids test. Every boxing event is handled by State Athletic Commissions.
Here is what Tygart said on the Mayweather-Mosley fight as quoted by allhiphop site. “Sport has and will always be more than just entertainment. It’s a vehicle by which our communities come together, and our fans put hopes and dreams on our athletes’ performances. Like it or not, our athletes are role models, athletes inspire our youth to be like them. Their performances confirm that hard work, dedication, and playing by the rules will lead to success, and there are no shortcuts. That’s why today [Mayweather-Mosley] is another watershed moment in the anti-doping efforts that have happened over the last several years.”
Tygart clarified that there are at least 4 potent performance enhancing drugs that are not detected in urine. These are Human Growth Hormone (HGH), Homologous Blood Transfusion (HBT), and HBOC which is synthetic hemoglobin. He also said that the boxing commission has allowed cheating in boxing by not adopting stricter anti-doping tests and failure to investigate allegations of steroid use. “Honestly, all athletes are entitled to a full legal process prior to be accused of cheating. But if those allegations are proven to be true, he would have certainly served time like any of the other BALCO athletes that were disciplined at the time,” he said referring to the case of Mosley.
According to Tygart, there are currently more than 400 individual sport bodies around the world in over 125 governments which have signed on to follow the anti-doping program. “That program includes testing for a full menu for prohibited substances and methods. It provides the best protocol for the collection of samples to ensure maximum comforts of athletes while ensuring the integrity of the samples collected.”
When coach Freddie Roach was asked by an HBO commentator about the Mayweather-Pacquiao match, Roach replied, “It’s a fight the world wants to see. Me and Manny want to see it. Floyd, let the commission do their jobs, let them run the rules, you don’t run this sport,” Roach said. “Get in the ring and fight us!” the coach added.
And for those boxing fans who are still hoping for the superfight, it is certain that it will not happen soon. According to reports, the Mayweather-Mosley match has a clause for rematch in the contract. Whoever wins the fight on May 1 will not matter as both fighters will box again in the ring for the second time.

































































