US dope body says Pacquiao misses point -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said Saturday Manny Pacquiao’s bold move to be tested 14 days before a proposed November 13 fight against Floyd Mayweather doesn’t solve the issue of random drug testing.

Speaking to fight scribe Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, USADA chief Travis Tygart said Pacquiao’s 14-day window “totally misses the point.”

“If you know you aren’t going to be tested within the last 14 days, you can cheat and get away with it. It is our right to test at any time, 30 days before the fight, 20 days before, the week of, the morning of – that provides the deterrent. If you block out a period of time and say we can’t test during that period, then an athlete could cheat and get away with it,” said Tygart, who heads the non-governmental agency tasked to get rid of doping in amateur and professional sports.

Pacquiao had told the Bulletin late Wednesday night that as part of his desire to make a deal with Mayweather, the Filipino is amenable to being tested two weeks before the scheduled bout and that only a reasonable amount should be taken from him.

Mayweather has demanded that he and Pacquiao undergo random blood and urine testing “in order to level the playing field.”

Although Mayweather hasn’t categorically stated that Pacquiao has been using performance-enhancing drugs, the statements of the flamboyant Detroit native imply that the 31-year-old seven-division titleholder is juiced, something that Pacquiao and his camp have perceived as utterly insulting.

“My only wish is for this fight to take place for the sake of the fans of boxing,” said Pacquiao, who has never been suspected and tested positive of any banned substance in 18 fights on US soil.

Pacquiao, who started out as a 108-pounder back in the mid-1990s, is bothered why Mayweather has the temerity to dictate the terms when it is the job of a boxing commission to regulate fights.

Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said the 14-day window sound sensible but Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s outspoken adviser, is unfazed by Pacquiao’s recent pronouncements.

“Random is random. It could be at any time. That’s what random means. I will say this: If and when Floyd Mayweather decides to fight again, random blood and urine testing will be part of it. Period,” Ellerbe said.

Mayweather is coming off a lopsided win over Shane Mosley early this month, while Pacquiao posted a similar win over Joshua Clottey last March.

Source: mb.com.ph