Mayweather says he ‘did not commit any violations’ prior to Pacquiao fight

Both world welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the United States Anti-Doping Agency fired back at the author of a story that claimed Mayweather and USADA acted inappropriately in Mayweather receiving an IV prior to his May 2 fight with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

In a statement released Thursday, Mayweather (48-0, 26 knockouts), who faces Andre Berto Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, said of the story written by longtime boxing journalist Thomas Hauser that initially appeared online Wednesday at SB Nation: "I did not commit any violations of the Nevada or USADA drug-testing guidelines. I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing.

"Let's not forget that I was the one six years ago who insisted on elevating the level of drug testing for all my fights. As a result, there is more drug testing and awareness of its importance in the sport of boxing today than ever before.

"I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause."

USADA also issued a lengthy statement which read: "Whether due to a genuine misunderstanding of the facts or an intentional desire to mislead, numerous unfounded and false accusations have been leveled against USADA in recent on-line articles. Since our inception, USADA's sole mission has been to protect clean sport.

"As such, it is unfortunate and extremely disappointing to have to address articles riddled with significant inaccuracies and misrepresentations based on unsubstantiated rumors as well as anonymous or self-interested sources that have recklessly called our integrity into question. It is simply absurd to suggest that we would ever compromise our integrity for any sport or athlete.

"Although the articles in question contain a multitude of errors, all of which will be addressed at the appropriate time, we believe it is important to immediately correct the record regarding the false suggestion that Floyd Mayweather violated the rules by receiving an IV infusion of saline and vitamins.

"As was already publicly reported in May of this year by the Nevada Athletic Commission, Mr. Mayweather applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) by USADA for an IV infusion of saline and vitamins that was administered prior to his May 2 fight against Manny Pacquiao. Mr. Mayweather's use of the IV was not prohibited under the NAC rules at that time and would not be a violation of the NAC rules today. Nonetheless, because Mr. Mayweather was voluntarily taking part in a USADA program, and therefore subject to the rules of the WADA Code, he took the additional step of applying for a TUE after the IV infusion was administered in order remain in compliance with the USADA program.

"Although Mr. Mayweather's application was not approved until after his fight with Mr. Pacquiao and all tests results were reported, Mr. Mayweather did disclose the infusion to USADA in advance of the IV being administered to him. Furthermore, once the TUE was granted, the NAC and Mr. Pacquiao were immediately notified even though the practice is not prohibited under NAC rules.

"Over the past six years USADA has conducted anti-doping programs for over 45 fights in the sport of professional boxing, and each of those programs has been conducted in accordance with the WADA Code and the International Standards. "As a result, every athlete who has participated in one of our programs has voluntarily agreed to abide by the rules of the WADA Code and willingly subjected themselves to substantially more stringent testing protocols than they otherwise would have been subject to.

"There are certainly those in the sport of professional boxing who appear committed to preventing an independent and comprehensive anti-doping program from being implemented in the sport, and who wish to advance an agenda that fails to put the interests of clean athletes before their own.

"Despite that opposition, we will continue to demonstrate to the clean athletes we serve, the sport partners we work with, and all those who share the ideal of fair competition, that we remain committed to our mission of protecting the rights of clean athletes and the integrity of competition."

Hauser fired back at Mayweather and USADA Thursday, telling boxingscene.com: "No amount of self-serving rhertoric from USADA can change the following unrebutted facts:

1) The IV was administered at Floyd Mayweather's home after the weigh-in on May 1. USADA learned about the IV on that date.

2) The 2015 WADA "Prohibited Substances and Methods List" states, "Intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50 ml per 6 hour period are prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations."

3) The above-referenced prohibition is in effect at all times that the athlete is subject to testing. It exists because, in addition to being administered for the purpose of adding specific substances to a person's body, an IV infusion can dilute or mask the presence of another substance that is already in the recipient's system or might be added to it in the near future.

4) Mayweather-Pacquiao was contested on May 2.

5) Mayweather applied for a therapeutic use exemption on May 19 (seventeen days after the fight).

6) USADA granted the therapeutic use exemption on May 20 (eighteen days after the fight).

7) USADA did not notify the Nevada Athletic Commission about the IV until May 21 (nineteen days after the fight).

While USADA maintains it did nothing wrong, the commission said only it can approve a TUE and apply it under the direction of the NAC's approved physicians.

"USADA does not have the jurisdiction to approve and administer a TUE," NAC chairman Francisco Aguilar said. "That and the fact we were not notified until well after the fact of Mr. Mayweather's being administered the TUE are very troubling and concerning to us."

Aguilar said the commission has no problem with Mayweather, who passed all his pre-and post-fight drug tests from the Pacquiao bout.

"Our concern is with USADA, which is supposed to be a drug-testing agency, and not a TUE administrating organization," Aguilar said. "We were not made aware of this until several weeks after the fight, which is not acceptable procedure for the commission."

It was the same reason why Aguilar denied Pacquiao the shot of a pain-killer for his right shoulder the night of the fight. The request was never made of the commission and there wasn't enough time for the NAC's doctors to examine Pacquiao's condition and if further treatment was warranted.

NAC executive director Bob Bennett echoed similar thoughts to Aguilar's.

"The bottom line is USADA didn't keep us informed on the Mayweather situation which is totally unacceptable and unprofessional," Bennett said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj