A report has shed some light on USADA, the newly contracted organization that is running the UFC drug testing program, in its dealings with Floyd Mayweather leading up to his fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Boxing writer Thomas Hauser, writing a long-form piece for SB Nation, provides interesting information which implicates Floyd Mayweather as it appears that he used an IV totaling 750 milliliters the day before his fight with Pacquiao May 2nd. The contents (saline and vitamins) are secondary to the fact that any IVs over 50 mL are strictly banned. What becomes more questionable is the fact that USADA, the drug testing agency which oversaw the fight, issued an exemption for the IV use after the fact. Thus, the Nevada State Athletic Commission did not learn of the IV use until 3 weeks after the fight.
Hauser pinpoints facts he obtained through his investigations of instances where USADA has acted suspiciously in the boxing world. Obviously, the instances he points out in his article can instantly be analogized in the UFC.
The main thrust of the article is that USADA, a not-for-profit corporation, appears to favor clients that pay more for its services. Notably, USADA was paid $150,000 up front to administer the testing for Mayweather-Pacquiao. Hauser points out that three weeks earlier it charged $36,000 to administer a PBC bout featuring Andy Lee and Peter Quillin.
The article alludes to the fact that USADA appears to accommodate those that pay a premium or are returning customers for their services. It brings up the Erik Morales example in addition to Mayweather.
You may recall that Pacquiao was denied an exemption to use a legal pain reliever to ease the pain of a torn rotator cuff. The revelation of this information post-fight caused a swell of lawsuits against Pacquiao, Top Rank, Bob Arum, et al. Now, the news that Mayweather was allowed an injection that was plainly against the rules, yet was granted an exemption by USADA post-fight seems almost absurd to think it legal. Yet, it appears that it was.
USADA’s CEO Travis Tygart did not provide comment but the organization issued statements through its senior communications manager Anne Skinner.
UPDATED: Courtesy of Josh Gross, USADA responds to Hauser’s article. Notably, there’s a typo in USADA’s statement. Good job.
Their link isn’t working, so here’s a screenshot of @usantidoping‘s response to yesterday’s Thomas Hauser story. pic.twitter.com/vLd5f6u4wr
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) September 10, 2015
Payout Perspective:
Hauser’s piece is a recommended read if you have the time. Whether you think its advocacy journalism or an unbiased view on the situation you cannot deny that the information laid out by Hauser should make you skeptical about the testing methods of USADA. At this point, the drug program is still in its infancy stages. No fighters have been caught by the drug testing protocol post-July 1 and there have been no inferences of wrongdoing. But, the Hauser article sheds on light possible inconsistencies by USADA when it comes to certain individuals (namely Floyd Mayweather).
As for the other side of the story, this information does not help Floyd Mayweather sell his $75 PPV fight this Saturday. There are obvious concerns by Mayweather that the PPV sales are down. Seats are not selling and Mayweather has even allowed footage of his sparring (something that he has never allowed in recent memory) to entice fans. This article cannot help this PPV or Mayweather’s legacy.
every top athlete is on the shit even the women give us a brerak
Good way to build floyds 50th fight vs pac
Something to point out here that might be relevant, Jon Jones and DC BOTH had very low t/e ratios when they fought. Had some of these more advanced procedures pointed out in that article at the very least they would have had further testing done but also the isotope(not sure if thats the right term) tests would have been administered. At this point im beginning to think only Roy Nelson and BJ Penn are clean..
Could be Nathan. But I’m still not buying another Mayweather PPV. And I don’t know too many people who are.
Did USADA deny Pacquiao or did the commission? I thought USADA was OK with it but the commission nixed it at the last minute.
Before this came out 60 % surveyed said they would buy a rematch …with this……its going to be higher hahahahahahaha….theyll say what if pacman got a 100% shoulder and mayweather would be tested 12 weeks bfore a fight 24/7 then its an even fight hahahahahaha…..the money is on the rematch…..not to mention it put attention to mayweather vs handpicked berto
Nice try “Nathan”. That fight won’t be happening. He’s done after this one.