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Boxing

10th Sep 2015

Did Floyd Mayweather cheat before the ‘fight of the century’ with Manny Pacquiao?

Serious allegations

Ben Kenyon

Floyd Mayweather is the pound-for-pound boxing king.

He has an unblemished record inside the ring with an incredible 48 straight wins.

Nobody can stop the man who has won world championships in five different divisions over 19 years.

But all that could be tarnished after allegations emerged he was given a banned injection before his record breaking superfight with Manny Pacquiao.

Money Mayweather allegedly took an intravenous solution of saline and vitamins on the eve of the Pacquiao fight on May 2 which was banned under World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines, according to a report by SB Nation.

Mayweather’s team say it was for rehydration after the weigh-ins.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a right at Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While saline and multi vitamins are not banned substances themselves, WADA rules do not permit intravenous infusions or injections of more than 50ml per six hours.

Allegedly Mayweather’s team told the collection agents that the IV mixture included 250ml of saline and multivitamins and then a 500ml infusion of saline and Vitamin C was administered after the fighters weighed in.

Mayweather had received an exception from the United States Anti-Doping Agency three weeks after the fight, the report said.

But Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett said USADA doesn’t have the authorisation to grant an exemption.

Bennett said only the commission can give an athlete an exemption, but the organisation was not notified until after it was given.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. reacts in the twelfth round during the welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Nevada commission was not told about the retroactive therapeutic-use exemption, which was allowed in the fighters’ contracts for the fight, until May 21. But SB Nation says Mayweather didn’t apply for the exemption until May 19.

Mayweather was given the exemption three weeks afterthe fight, but Pacquiao was denied a request for a painkiller for a rotator cuff injury before the fight because he had not notified them in a timely manner or disclosed the injury previously.

Bob Bennett said: “The TUE for Mayweather’s IV – and the IV was administered at Floyd’s house, not in a medical facility, and wasn’t brought to our attention at the time – was totally unacceptable.

“I’ve made it clear to Travis Tygart that this should not happen again.

“USADA is a drug-testing agency. USADA should not be granting waivers and exemptions. Not in this state. We are less than pleased that USADA acted the way it did.”

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