Tweet
By STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Manny Pacquiao wanted to clear something up.
The eight-time world champion said he has been tested twice by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency for his Nov. 23 welterweight fight with Brandon Rios in Macau after reports surfaced that only Rios had been tested.
“Yes, I was tested twice, so there is no problem,” Pacquiao said on a conference call Thursday from the Philippines. “The testing is fine, and I am happy to do it. Random (drug) testing is good for boxing.”
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, whose company promotes both fighters, paid for the testing, which began Sept. 12 and was confirmed by VADA co-founder Margaret Goodman. Arum said he selected VADA over the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, but he didn’t say whether both fighters passed their tests.
“I selected VADA because this is not the usual situation,” Arum said. “This fight is taking place outside of the country in a place that isn’t used to boxing. I needed a collection and testing agency that could handle outside the country since Manny was going to train in the Philippines, and they’ve been able to do it.
“They sent a collector twice, I think from Germany, and I have confidence in their ability to do a good policing job. The only alternative I had was the other organization, which I don’t care for.”
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Manny Pacquiao wanted to clear something up.
The eight-time world champion said he has been tested twice by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency for his Nov. 23 welterweight fight with Brandon Rios in Macau after reports surfaced that only Rios had been tested.
“Yes, I was tested twice, so there is no problem,” Pacquiao said on a conference call Thursday from the Philippines. “The testing is fine, and I am happy to do it. Random (drug) testing is good for boxing.”
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, whose company promotes both fighters, paid for the testing, which began Sept. 12 and was confirmed by VADA co-founder Margaret Goodman. Arum said he selected VADA over the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, but he didn’t say whether both fighters passed their tests.
“I selected VADA because this is not the usual situation,” Arum said. “This fight is taking place outside of the country in a place that isn’t used to boxing. I needed a collection and testing agency that could handle outside the country since Manny was going to train in the Philippines, and they’ve been able to do it.
“They sent a collector twice, I think from Germany, and I have confidence in their ability to do a good policing job. The only alternative I had was the other organization, which I don’t care for.”
Comment