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Floyd Mayweather has won each of the 48 bouts that he has fought in during his professional boxing career. The most recent of those was a much-hyped megamatch against Manny Pacquiao on May 2 of this year. Mayweather won in a fight universally declared to be an enormous disappointment. But he may have done something prior to the fight that was truly disappointing: cheating.
According to a report by SB Nation, agents from the United States Anti-Doping Agency visited Mayweather’s residence to conduct an unannounced drug test just prior to fight night. They came across evidence that an unauthorized intravenous injection of saline and vitamins had been administered to Mayweather. That might not seem newsworthy, much less an example of cheating. IVs are routinely used by medical professionals to treat dehydration. But things aren’t that simple in a world full of athletes who dope.
IV treatments like the one Mayweather received can be used to mask the use of prohibited substances and distort the results of doping tests. The ability to hide doping is why both the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its U.S. affiliate place strict guidelines on the use of IV infusions. According to USADA, “all IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6-hour period are prohibited.” The only exceptions are for legitimate “hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations,” or, if an athlete has applied for and been granted a therapeutic use exemption. The exemption must be approved prior to the IV being administered.
Mayweather, who claims he did not violate Nevada or USADA guidelines, applied for and received such an exemption. USADA agrees. The only thing is, somehow the application was not filed until May 19—more than two weeks after the timing of the visit by collection agents and the date of the fight.
In this case, it is hard to see how Mayweather’s situation fits any of the criteria for a legitimate use of an IV. First, as Mayweather himself claims, the IV was used exclusively for rehydration. It’s tough to argue that as being a necessary medical treatment. Second, no exceptional circumstance appears to have prevented him from applying for an exemption prior to the fight, since the date was known months in advance. Third, this news came rather slowly to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which had jurisdiction over the fight. And the action by USADA to grant Mayweather a retroactive exemption seemingly violates both its own and WADA rules.
Mayweather is famed for his impenetrable defense in the ring. But if things turn out to be as they appear, he might need to prepare to defend himself against the greatest threat he has ever faced. And USADA might want to think about getting into fighting shape if anyone is going to take the effort to prevent doping in boxing or any sport seriously.
Doping Test May Knock Out Floyd Mayweather
According to a report by SB Nation, agents from the United States Anti-Doping Agency visited Mayweather’s residence to conduct an unannounced drug test just prior to fight night. They came across evidence that an unauthorized intravenous injection of saline and vitamins had been administered to Mayweather. That might not seem newsworthy, much less an example of cheating. IVs are routinely used by medical professionals to treat dehydration. But things aren’t that simple in a world full of athletes who dope.
IV treatments like the one Mayweather received can be used to mask the use of prohibited substances and distort the results of doping tests. The ability to hide doping is why both the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its U.S. affiliate place strict guidelines on the use of IV infusions. According to USADA, “all IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6-hour period are prohibited.” The only exceptions are for legitimate “hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations,” or, if an athlete has applied for and been granted a therapeutic use exemption. The exemption must be approved prior to the IV being administered.
Mayweather, who claims he did not violate Nevada or USADA guidelines, applied for and received such an exemption. USADA agrees. The only thing is, somehow the application was not filed until May 19—more than two weeks after the timing of the visit by collection agents and the date of the fight.
In this case, it is hard to see how Mayweather’s situation fits any of the criteria for a legitimate use of an IV. First, as Mayweather himself claims, the IV was used exclusively for rehydration. It’s tough to argue that as being a necessary medical treatment. Second, no exceptional circumstance appears to have prevented him from applying for an exemption prior to the fight, since the date was known months in advance. Third, this news came rather slowly to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which had jurisdiction over the fight. And the action by USADA to grant Mayweather a retroactive exemption seemingly violates both its own and WADA rules.
Mayweather is famed for his impenetrable defense in the ring. But if things turn out to be as they appear, he might need to prepare to defend himself against the greatest threat he has ever faced. And USADA might want to think about getting into fighting shape if anyone is going to take the effort to prevent doping in boxing or any sport seriously.
Doping Test May Knock Out Floyd Mayweather
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