Manny Pacquiao feels "vindicated" over controversial reports of Floyd MayweatherJr.'s use of a banned IV infusion the day prior their big fight.
Mayweather is under the spotlight after a report on SB Nation indicated that the boxer received an intravenous mix of saline and multi-vitamins, reports USA Today Sports' boxingjunkie.com. The substance is reportedly not banned although IV infusions are not allowed by international guidelines before a fight. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) reportedly granted Mayweather a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) two weeks after the boxer's May bout. The USADA was the agency contracted to oversee drug testing during the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Apparently, the USADA discovered evidence of the IV during an unannounced drug test in Mayweather's Las Vegas home shortly after the fight's weigh in.
When Pacquiao's camp discovered the Mayweather IV controversy, the Filipino boxer sent a text message to The Philippine Star's Abac Cordero, reports Rappler. Pacquiao wrote, "Truth finally came out and I was vindicated. Mayweather camp used to accuse me of using PED. Now, look at what happened. I hope Floyd Mayweather would learn a good lesson out of it."
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's longtime advisor, told USA Today Sports in a phone interview that he was surprised about the news. He also revealed that Pacquiao was denied the use of a Toradol injection for a torn rotator cuff. He said, "Manny's right, the truth came out, and I'm just surprised that the commission was so harsh on us when we thought we complied to have the shot and they denied it flatly and rudely and yet there's this Mayweather incident."
Koncz also mentioned that it "doesn't seem fair" since the USADA was "harsh" with them when they gave the agency more than enough time over their Toradol injection request. The advisor even said he was hesitant to state that since they still have future plans to fight in Las Vegas. Koncz added, "It's very disheartening. We have fans in Vegas, the city of Vegas is good to us."
Mayweather has denied the allegations.
