By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - According to trainer Freddie Roach, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has given blood on more than a dozen occasions in the last few weeks.
Both Pacquiao and WBC/WBA champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. are being tested by USADA [United States Anti-Doping Agency] for performance enhancing drugs and other banned substances.
Back in 2010, the Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations fell apart when Pacquiao refused to take part in a random drug testing protocol. During the last two years, Pacquiao became more comfortable with the random drug testing process.
When they began negotiations earlier this year, the issue of drug testing was a non-factor.
"We've been tested in our gym over twelve times this training camp. I hope it's even [on their end]. I don't know about the other training camp, but we've been tested, by blood tests, over twelve times," Roach said.
Mayweather-Pacquiao takes place on Saturday night, live in Showtime/HBO pay-per-view.
