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USADA Damage Control

USADA Statement on Inaccurate News Reports Regarding the Sport of Pro Boxing:

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 State Athletic Commission (NSAC), Mr. Mayweather applied for and was granted a The****utic 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 NSAC rules at that time and would not be a violation of the NSAC 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 NSAC and Mr. Pacquiao were immediately notified even though the practice is not prohibited under NSAC 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 Responds

2:10 (ET) UPDATE: Thomas Hauser has released his own statement, responding to the one put out by USADA late Thursday morning. The author chooses a high degree of specificity in his comeback, you will note:

Statement of Thomas Hauser with Regard to the

September 10, 2015, Comments by Annie Skinner on Behalf of USADA

No amount of self-serving rhetoric 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.â€



(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 the****utic use exemption on May 19 (seventeen days after the fight).



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



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



Meanwhile, on May 2 (fight night), Manny Pacquiao’s request to be injected with Toradol (a legal substance) to ease the pain caused by a torn rotator cuff was denied by the Nevada State Athletic Commission because the request was not made in a timely manner.



It would be helpful if Travis Tygart or his spokesperson answered the following questions directly:



(1) What was the medical justification and supporting data that led to USADA granting the the****utic use exemption for an otherwise prohibited IV procedure?



(2) On how many occasions has the “A†sample of a professional boxer tested by USADA come back positive for a prohibited substance?



(3) What was the testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio for each urine test administered to Floyd Mayweather by USADA for each of his fights beginning with Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley up to and including Mayweather vs. Andre Berto?



(4) Does USADA still maintain that it handled the Erik Morales matter correctly?

2 PM (ET) THURSDAY UPDATE: Floyd Mayweather almost 24 hours after Thomas Hausers' scathing scrutinizer looked at USADA's testing record in boxing and their handling of Mayweathers' samples and the protocol involving the sport's marquee name, responded.
 
The fact Floyd needs an IV to help him rehydrate is strange seen as he doesn't really cut any weight.
 
I find this whole topic very interesting.

If you were to accuse a UK fighter of juicing which ones would it be? AJ would be a first pick for many. I'd also say Brook and his little mate from the same gym hasn't helped .....

I tell you who I found interesting for his last fight, conditioning wise ...... Crolla.

I'd love to see his condition pre last fight versus the previous, I know it was a title shot and he could have worked harder but he doesn't strike me as the type who would go through a camp at 70%.

I'm not saying he did cheat I'm just saying I found his conditioning a shock. Is this sudden change possible just by seeing a better nutritionist for example?
I can see why you'd be suspicious about him.

Seems weird that a guy who trains under a trainer best known for getting his fighters in incredible shape could change his body shape so much between fights
 
A wee case reference using Armstrong, IV's and saline solution!

When the testers could not be avoided, Armstrong and his teammates turned to drug masking, the report said. It indicated that during the 1998 world championships, testers were diverted to other riders on the United States team while one of Armstrong’s doctors “smuggled a bag of saline under his raincoat, getting it past the tester and administering saline to Armstrong before Armstrong was required to provide a blood sample.â€

The saline infusion restored Armstrong’s blood values to a level that would not attract attention.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/s...012/10/12/sports/cycling/how-lance-armstrong-beat-cyclings-drug-tests.html?_r=0
 
Leverage for May?
For a rematch? Wouldn't surprise me. I'm not too fussed by these recent allegations because unless it's proven he's cheated it's all speculation the same way as the speculation around Pacquiao or any other fighter. However, I've long since accepted that the guy's out to line his pockets and doesn't fight for the love of the sport.
 
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