A fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao may not happen in 2012. Some boxing analysts say the probability is less than 50% if we will base it on the current demands of each fighter. Not seeing the two great fighters in the ring next year is again a great disappointment for many boxing fans around the world.

The previous stumbling block is the Olympic style blood testing demanded by Floyd Mayweather Jr. He started requiring opponents to undergo extensive steroid testing when a fight between him and Pacquiao began to materialize. The undefeated champion wants to clean the sports from performance enhancing drugs.

Though many boxing fans still doubt his sincerity and thinks Floyd Jr is just avoiding a possible stain on his zero loss record. Pacquiao is on a winning streak and has sent many boxing champions to the floor. On the other hand, Floyd and his group believe that the world’s 8 division boxing champion uses steroids to outclass his opponents.

Pacquiao Accepted Random Blood Testing

Recently, Pacquiao told the media that he is willing to submit to Olympic style blood testing. He can be tested anytime during the training and after the fight. He agreed to the random test without any cut-off date. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum also announced that there were no more hindrances in the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout. The promoter said the fight purse of 50-50 has already been accepted by both parties.

If Pacquiao already accepted random blood testing, which he shunned in the previous negotiations, why is it that many are still skeptical about the realization of the mega fight between the two fighters?

Who Will Conduct the Drug Testing?

The main issue now is who will conduct the drug testing on Manny Pacquiao. The Mayweather camp wants the USADA to handle the drug testing on Pacquiao. However, the big problem is, USADA can’t go to the Philippines to test Manny for steroids. The 8 world division champion usually spend half of his training in his home country. He will only go the US for the final stage of his training and when the scheduled fight is already near.

Based on online reports, Floyd Mayweather only wants USADA and is not in favor of giving the testing process to any other anti-doping agency. Arum told reporters a few weeks ago that the steroid testing will be handled by the World Anti-Doping Agency in cooperation with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. WADA oversees drug testing in the Olympics and has been in the forefront in the fight against abuse of performance enhancing drugs in sports. In fact, anti-doping agencies like the USADA follow the standards of WADA.

Is this Another Way of Avoiding Pacquiao?

Floyd Jr insisted it is not. In the interview of Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Floyd Jr said he really wants to fight Pacquiao but with conditions. Pacquiao must cooperate with him in taking the steroid test. “Absolutely. Write that word down 10 times in a row. I absolutely want the fight,” Floyd Jr said.

Floyd also added that he doesn’t care how much money is negotiated for the fight. What he is after is making the sport clean and wants a level playing field. “I want to be on a level playing field with this guy. We’re fighting at the highest level, talking about the biggest fight ever. You should have the greatest testing too,” he said.

More Questions than Answers

When Floyd said that Pacquiao should cooperate with him, does it mean asking Pacquiao to spend his training in the US just to allow USADA perform its job? Maybe yes, maybe no. Why is it that Floyd doesn’t want any other anti-doping agency handle the drug testing process even the WADA? Does it mean USADA is better than WADA?

Evading the steroid defamation case and asking too many conditions are enough for us to think that Floyd Jr has another thing in mind. We can surmise that it’s not about fighting Manny Pacquiao.

“I think he’s suffered enough.” This is what former Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia told reporters in a recent political speaking engagement. The lawmaker is a member of the House committee that heard Roger Clemens’ testimony in 2008. The congressional investigation examined the alleged rampant use of steroids of professional athletes particularly in baseball. Lawmakers, at that time, believed that Clemens perjured himself when he denied that he never used steroids or human growth hormone.

Clemens’ Trial Ended in Mistrial

Clemens was indicted on six felony charges but the trial last month ended briefly after Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial. The prosecution presented evidences that were barred by the judge during the pre-trial hearings. Judge Walton fumed when prosecutors showed the jury a video of Laura Pettitte’s deposition. Laura claimed that her husband Andy told her about Clemens’ use of human growth hormone.

Effects of the Trial Enough Punishment said Lawmaker

The former Republican representative, however, clarified that he is not telling the Department of Justice what to do with Clemens steroid perjury case. The lawmaker is not asking the government to stop their legal action against the pitcher. He just takes into account the effects of the trial on Clemens’ career and life which can be considered as more than enough punishment for the star pitcher.

Clemens spent a lot of money in defending himself. He was also labeled as a steroid cheat. And the worst punishment that he could get is denial in the Hall of Fame. The baseball career of Clemens ended after 24 seasons with 354 games won and 4,672 strikeouts. He holds the third all time record in strikeouts and received the CY Young Award for seven times.

These achievements are definitely for the Hall of Fame. However, HOF voters are still wary of players (convicted or not) who were involved in steroids or performance enhancing drugs.

Lying to Congress Still a Serious Offense

Rep. Davis also clarified that he does not condone lying to Congress. “I don’t take lying to Congress lightly,” he said. But for him, not pursuing the criminal charges against Clemens does not mean the baseball legend can go away scot-free. “If you think Roger Clemens is getting off by dropping the charges, that’s wrong,” said Davis.

Motion to Junk Steroid Case

Clemens’ lawyers already filed a motion asking the court to junk retrial of the steroid case. Judge Reggie Walton scheduled a September 2 hearing to finally decide if a retrial is necessary or dismiss all the charges for double jeopardy issue. The prosecution is sure to ask for a retrial but still decline to divulge their next strategy to the media.

If you will ask Dana White of the UFC and heads of other MMA promotions, they will have the same answer. Steroid use is not a major problem in their league and the current anti-doping policies are enough to catch cheating fighters. Well of course, from time to time, they can catch doping fighters but many critics believe that there should be more. Anti-doping agencies even challenged the UFC and other MMA outfits to implement stricter and pro-active anti-doping measures if they want to eradicate steroid use in mixed martial arts.

Is it Really Rampant?

The percentage of steroid users in the MMA is very minimal if we will base it on the number of fighters sanctioned or suspended for steroid use. However, the current testing procedures are considered insufficient. The UFC, for example, depends on the state athletic commissions with regards to steroid testing. Fighters are tested before and after the fight for performance enhancing substances. But the UFC does not conduct random testing of fighters which opens the window for cheating.

Up to 96% of Elite Fighters Are on Steroids

Just recently, a UFC fighter told Ariel Helwani of MMA Hour his perception as to how and why steroid use is rampant in their sport. UFC light heavyweight Krzysztof Soszynski said that majority of the fighters are using steroids. “I would definitely say somewhere in the percentage of 85 percent of guys are definitely using, especially the guys who can afford it are definitely using,” said Soszynski.

He also made a bold estimate on how many of the elite fighters are on PED’s. “I would even go as high as 95 to 96 percent of the top level athletes that are definitely using it. You can clearly see it,” he told Helwani.

Other Fighters Claiming Steroid is a Problem

There were many UFC fighters who made similar allegations but was later forced to retract their statements. Late last year, Nate Diaz said in an interview that he believes steroid use is widespread in the MMA. He added that it is not surprising if the UFC will catch these fighters because most of them take steroids. Heavyweight fighter Cheick Kongo also estimated that at least 50% of MMA fighters are on steroids. But the allegation of Soszynski tops them all.

Soszynski’s Basis

Many would ask why Krzysztof Soszynski made such allegations. Soszynski is currently recuperating from knee injury. His last fight was against Mike Massenzio at UFC 131 last June. He learned during his rehabilitation how easy it is to have access to steroids. “I even had someone talk to me about stem cell injections. You’re looking at stuff like EPO, and at least five or six different counterfeit drugs out there that people are using and they’re not even detectable in the body. It’s just amazing to me how far athletes are willing to go to make their mark in this sport,” he said.

The easy access to steroids and failure of the testing methods to detect these substances encourage fighters to take PED’s. “If you take it the right way and follow the right instructions, you’ll never get caught for it, wouldn’t you take it?” asked Soszynski.

MMA Needs Random Steroid Tests

For Soszynski, the problem of steroids in MMA could be addressed by instituting comprehensive drug testing. He suggests random and out-of-competition tests to effectively catch doping fighters. Fighters take steroids 8 to 10 weeks before the fight. “That’s the time when everybody’s doing their drug abuse and that’s when they’re taking their testosterone and their steroids. That’s when I think fighters should be tested,” Soszynski said.

The heavyweight fighter also said that he is one of the few fighters who are not into steroid thing.

Human growth hormone testing in NFL is a breakthrough in North American professional sports. The league and the labor union already signed the 10-year labor deal which includes blood testing for HGH. Many commended the effort of the two parties in adopting the new anti-doping policy. However, there are still some who are not happy with the decision of their top officials.

One of them is Pittsburgh Steelers safety and player representative to the union Ryan Clark. He expressed his disappointment in a recent interview by the LA Times. “I think people wanted to get a deal done so badly that it was overlooked,” Clark said. “In that sense, players kind of got screwed, for lack of a better word.”

HGH Testing Disliked by NFL Players

HGH testing has been shunned by players for years because they contend that the existing methods of testing are unreliable. But the player’s union top officials change their stance on the issue. NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith told the media that blood testing for HGH is needed to maintain the integrity of the game.

And of course, the pressure from other stakeholders particularly the league has led to this historic agreement. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been in the forefront of this campaign. The commissioner even subjected himself to HGH testing a few months ago to prove that blood testing for growth hormone is reliable.

Blood Could be Used for Profiling

Though Clark wants a level playing field, taking blood samples from players is way too intimate. He also doubts whether the league will adhere to its promise not to use the blood samples for other medical purposes. This could be used to gather medical information from players. Another NFL player, Troy Polamalu, is also concerned on how the blood samples will be used by the league. He said there could be a possibility that it will be used as leverage in future contract negotiation with players.

NFL Dispel Fears

The test is reliable. This is the assurance of the league. According to Adolpho Birch, NFL’s VP for law and labor policy, there has been a substantial improvement in the methods of testing for HGH. The players should not worry of any false-positive result. “The test that’s in use now is accurate, it’s reliable, it’s not subject in any way, shape or form to false positives,” he said. “We know that because it has been validated internationally, and peer-reviewed.… There’s really no question it’s reliable,” Birch told LA Times.

Blood for HGH Testing Only

Birch also dispels the fears of many players that the blood samples may be used for other purposes. He said the blood required for HGH test is less than a tablespoon which is too small to divide for other laboratory tests. He assured the players that there will be strict documentation on the chain of custody for the blood samples.

HGH Testing All Year Round

Football players should be ready anytime of the year for this new anti-doping program of the league. Aside from the annual scheduled HGH testing, the league will also conduct unannounced random testing during the season. According to Birch, the players will be selected using a computer program. The actual number of players to be tested for human growth hormone has yet to be determined.

Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus is one of the few dedicated people trying to eradicate steroid abuse in sports. He recently graced in a world fitness convention in Los Angeles where he encourage people to buy certified supplement products free from any steroid content. Butkus is also busy with his “I Play Clean” campaign in schools across the country.

The “I Play Clean” initiative is focused on educating young athletes, particularly those in the high school level, about the dangers of using performance enhancing drugs like steroids and HGH. They also target coaches and parents to take an active part in preventing the abuse of these drugs.

Butkus told Yahoo Sports how he became involved in this anti-PED initiative. “Maybe six years ago, I was with some high-school athletes, and the subject of steroids came up, which really shocked me. I was amazed that they were just talking about it like they’d talk about the weather.”

Young Athletes are Aware of the Dangers of Steroids

In the interview of Big Lead Sports, Dick Butkus said that young athletes are now more aware of the consequences of taking performance enhancing drugs. However, the task does not end in educating these student athletes. Coaches and parents must continue to guide these athletes. The pressure and the desire to excel in their sports could lead these athletes to wrong decisions. “They are the ones who need to be involved and prevent dangerous steroids and [PEDs] from even becoming a part of lives of these athletes,” Butkus said.

Young athletes are more prone to the side effects of steroids because they usually take it without supervision. Their young bodies are also susceptible to long term damage including liver and heart problems

New Anti-Doping Programs of the NFL are Good

The former pro bowler is happy with the developments in the NFL. The league announced recently that they will adopt game-day testing for steroids and blood testing for HGH in the coming season. He said that these programs will benefit the players especially in protecting their health. According to Butkus, there are studies that the use of HGH can cause serious health risks particularly cancer. He also revealed that HGH can actually lower an athlete’s strength instead of raising their power.

Endorsing Supplements

Aside from the steroid awareness campaign, Butkus is also endorsing supplements for athletes. “Through “Play Clean” and working with EAS, we are really out there making people aware of the dangers and the positive alternatives,” he said.

The products are different from other over the counter supplements because it is 100% certified. He claims the products from EAS (Energy Athletics Strength) are free from any banned performance enhancing drugs. “You can go into a health food store and buy something off the shelf and have a 20% chance of testing positive for steroids. EAS brands are 100% certified. They’ve been tested by the FDA.”

“It’s important to know what you’re taking. You have to look at the ingredients when you look that supplements,” Butkus told the Big Lead Sports.

It is not uncommon for professional athletes to defend themselves once caught by anti-doping authorities. While there are some who can give valid reasons, many are still giving unusual explanations as to why the banned substances got into their system. This month, another professional athlete blamed a beauty product for showing a positive result for steroids.

An elite Japanese rugby player was suspended for two years for violating the anti-doping rules. His test returned positive for steroids during a random test by the sport’s governing body. However, fly-half rugby player Ryohei Yamanaka contends that he did not used steroids but blamed a mustache cream for the positive test. The 23-year old World Cup hopeful uses the cream to grow his mustache but unfortunately it contains a banned substance. Yamanaka said that he failed to read the label.

Mustache Cream Contains Steroids

According to the International Rugby Board, the substances found in Yamanaka’s system are methyltestosterone and/or Methandriol. Both steroids are on WADA’s prohibited list of substances. Even if Yamanaka did not intentionally use these steroids, he is still liable. “Under the strict liability principle of the IRB’s anti-doping regime he properly accepted he was aware he had a personal duty of ensuring no prohibited substance entered his system,” the IRB said in its report.

Rugby Player Liable

Yamanaka plays for the Kobe Kobelco Steelers and sports authorities just can’t accept his alibi. IRB said that Yamanaka is an experienced player and must be cautious in using over the counter medications. The IRB added that the mandatory two year ban could have been prevented if Yamanaka was more careful.

Daily Yomiuri also reported that Yamanaka underwent extensive anti-doping education while he was studying sports science at Waseda University and playing for various Japanese teams. The young rugby player knows that he could be tested anytime. In fact, he recently submitted to an out of competition test for two times.

Japan Rugby Football Union Saddened by the Incident

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) was not happy about the suspension of Yamanaka. “It is truly regretful that a national representative team member is being sanctioned due to his anti-doping rule violation and becomes ineligible,” said Tatsuzo Yabe, chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union.

Since the decision of the IRB is final, the JRFU can only help players in educating them about performance enhancing drugs. “The sanction imposed by the IRB is final and we the JRFU, as well as the player, accept the sanction with gravity. We are determined to give all the players under the JRFU a thorough and extensive anti-doping education,” said Yabe.

Yamanaka Out of Rugby World Cup

The suspension on Yamanaka was backdated to April 28 and he will definitely miss the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September. The ban will also prohibit him from playing or participating in any tournament or to be involved in any rugby team.

Yanamaka already apologized for the steroid controversy. “I would like to apologize to all rugby supporters and parties concerned for causing such trouble as a result of my carelessness,” he told the Daily Yomiuri.

As a warning to other pro athletes, the next time you put on a moustache cream, make it sure it does not contain any type of steroids.