What Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr said about Rios’ failed drug test

By Boxing News - 12/17/2013 - Comments

rios7By Juan dela Cruz: After his one-sided loss to Manny Pacquiao last November 24, 2013 at the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Hotel in Macau, China, Brandon Rios failed in one of his drug tests after the fight thus earning him suspension until April 24, 2013. In a post-fight drug test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), Brandon tested positive for the banned substance methylexanamine, a stimulant that is commonly known as dimenthylamylamine or DMAA, which helps in cutting down weight.

We can recall that on the failed first negotiation with the Pacquiao fight, Floyd reasoned out that he demanded random blood test because he wants to clean the sport. A great endeavor indeed. But was he really bent on cleaning the sports or was it just a smokescreen to avoid Pacman? Well, it seems the truth is now coming out at last.

After words of said failed drug test came to Manny, he called for more sanctions against anyone who will be caught positive of banned substance. He even wanted to include in his future fight contracts that stiffer penalties shall be meted to anyone who will fail the test. For Manny, suspension is not enough. Drastic penalties are needed to discipline the fighter and the trainer.

On the other hand, Floyd Mayweather Jr was more forgiving. In a video by Ben Thompson of Fight Hype, Floyd refused to say anything bad about Rios. His words for Brandon were: “Keep you head up champ, stay focused,” “I’m not here to judge you. You’re only human. We all make mistakes. Keep your head up high. Just come back and bounce back like a true champion. I have nothing negative to say about anyone because no one is perfect.” You can see that Floyd’s stand here is far from his opinion on the matter before, or during the failed negotiation with Manny Pacquiao where he insisted that there should be random blood test and that he will spearhead cleaning up the sport of performance enhancing-drugs and other banned substances. And the irony was that, he had good words for Brandon who tested positive for a banned substance and yet, unpleasant ones for Manny who never had tested positive in all drug tests.

Random blood test is no longer an issue for the mega fight, the issue here right now is that, was Floyd really bent on cleaning up the sport? Let the fans be the judge.



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