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ARLINGTON, Texas – Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, complained that Antonio Margarito had taken Ephedra, a banned stimulant, prior to their World Boxing Council super welterweight title fight at Cowboys Stadium and demanded an immediate urinalysis.
Texas boxing regulators in charge of the bout refused and said Margarito would be tested for a complete drug screening following the fight, per normal.
Roach associate Billy Keane was in Margarito’s locker room and saw a bottle of something he believed to be Ephedra or a substance containing Ephedra. He then alerted Roach, who complained to the commission.
“I saw them try to give [Margarito] Hydroxycut and caught them,” Keane told Yahoo! Sports via text message. “He had coffee loaded with Splenda and sugar. The doctor said it was his choice to take the pills, but it would probably come up in the [post-fight urinalysis]. I did not see him take any pills.”
Hydroxycut was linked to liver damage and rhabdomyolysis in a 2009 report issued by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Margarito trainer Robert Garcia was complaining about the way Pacquiao’s hands were wrapped and was insisting they be re-wrapped. The commission approved the wrappings.
The controversies were not expected to delay the start of the fight. Top Rank president Todd duBoef said both sides agreed to put the dispute behind them and take it up after the fight.
Texas boxing regulators in charge of the bout refused and said Margarito would be tested for a complete drug screening following the fight, per normal.
Roach associate Billy Keane was in Margarito’s locker room and saw a bottle of something he believed to be Ephedra or a substance containing Ephedra. He then alerted Roach, who complained to the commission.
“I saw them try to give [Margarito] Hydroxycut and caught them,” Keane told Yahoo! Sports via text message. “He had coffee loaded with Splenda and sugar. The doctor said it was his choice to take the pills, but it would probably come up in the [post-fight urinalysis]. I did not see him take any pills.”
Hydroxycut was linked to liver damage and rhabdomyolysis in a 2009 report issued by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Margarito trainer Robert Garcia was complaining about the way Pacquiao’s hands were wrapped and was insisting they be re-wrapped. The commission approved the wrappings.
The controversies were not expected to delay the start of the fight. Top Rank president Todd duBoef said both sides agreed to put the dispute behind them and take it up after the fight.
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