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PACQUIAO IS A CLEAN FIGHTER?ABSOLUTELY! By Dr. Allan Recto PhilBoxing.com Mon, 26 Apr 2010 Los Angeles, California (April 25, 2010) ? A certified ringside physician from the Texas Boxing Commission has conveyed the test results of WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao?s urine for steroids collected last March 13th at his dressing room, right after his clash with Joshua Clottey, in their match-up dubbed ?The Event? in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. The test results as shown by the Medical Review Officer?s Report were negative. Dr. Oscar Molina confirmed that Manny Pacquiao is indeed a clean fighter and not using any steroids or illegal drugs. During the day of the weigh-in, it was Dr. Molina from Dallas, TX who, accompanied by representatives from Top Rank and the TDLR?s Combative Sports Division (Texas Boxing Commission), came to Pacquiao?s suite at the Gaylord Texan Hotel to perform the mandatory pre-fight physical examination. The ring doctor took PacMan?s vital signs that read: BP ? 116/64 and a resting HR of 43 per minute. ?Perfect. This is indeed amazing,? he remarked and re-iterated our similar observation that elite athletes who are in top condition have this kind of measurement with regards to their heart rate being low. ?Wow, this means he is in excellent condition,? the assigned Texas ringside physician revealed to us. Pacquiao was grinning but remained relax and quiet. Just like all of us, he was excited about his upcoming fight. Immediately post-fight, at the Team Pacquiao?s dressing room, two Texas Combative Sports Division ringside physicians, Dr. Wayne Lee of San Antonio, TX and Dr. Manuel Gonzalez from Laredo, TX, showed up to monitor and collect the urine specimen of Manny Pacquiao for testing purposes. The fighter, looking a bit weary and dehydrated, was elated by his Unanimous Decision win over number one welterweight contender Joshua Clottey. The unprecedented seven title holder in seven divisions Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao gulped a couple of bottled water after the contest then declared, ?I?m ready anytime, anywhere!? Pacquiao was certainly referring to any drug testing or urine collection. The PacMan, accompanied by a commission physician, went inside the restroom to do what was expected of him and came out with a half-filled specimen bottle of fresh, amber-colored urine. The Texas ringside physicians properly labeled the urine sample and followed proper chain of custody protocol. The urine specimen was tested without delay for any illegal drugs. Pacquiao?s urine sample was negative for drugs such as Amphetamines, Marijuana, Opiates, etc. The WBO Supervisor, who was present during the urine drug screen, officially noted the results and relayed it to Pacquiao, the Texas Boxing Commissioner Dicky Cole and later on to the WBO President Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel. ?The initial Urine Drug Test was negative,? affirmed the WBO Supervisor to the boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao who nodded to confirm, as he was busy preparing for the post-fight press conference. A Texas Boxing Commission ringside physician later notified Team Pacquiao members, particularly Michael Koncz, that the rest of the urine sample would be sent to a special laboratory for steroid confirmation. The turn around time for test results would be a few weeks. SteroidConfirm Urine Test screens for commonly abused anabolic steroid agents using the latest technique of Liquid Chromatograph Tandem Mass Spectrometry, the most sensitive and sophisticated technology available. This test enables ringside physicians, sports trainers, boxing or athletic commissions, etc. to test athletes who they suspect may be abusing anabolic steroids, which are known to increase muscle mass and physical strength. Best Filipino trainer Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez wears a t-shirt during the pre-fight mass in Texas attesting that his fighter is not on steroids. (Photo credit: Jacqueline Co) The Nevada State Athletic Commission had ordered random drug-testing to be performed to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in late December 2009, which conformed with the World Anti- Doping Agency?s guidelines, and those test results showed Pacquiao was negative for performance enhancing as well as illegal drugs or steroids. Should Floyd ?Money? Mayweather, Jr. get past Shane Mosley on May 1st next week, a potential mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao is a definite possibility. During his most recent conference call in Las Vegas, Mayweather, Jr. said, ?All I'm saying, if you're a clean athlete, take your test. That's all I'm saying. That's all I've got to say. If you're a clean athlete, take the test! Show the world, you know what, I'm a natural. Take the test, that's all I say. Let them come get you at any time and take the test." The allegations of certain individuals are truly unfounded. Pacquiao has never been tested positive for steroids or any illegal drugs. During HBO?s ?Road to Dallas? TV special leading to the fight between Pacquiao and Clottey last March 13th at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao openly denied he was using any drugs or steroid. Pacquiao said, ?I?m a very clean fighter. I don?t know what is a steroid. I don?t have an idea what it is. Because for me, hard work and faith to God?that is my energy everyday.? Renowned Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach said in that HBO documentary episode, ?There?s no validation in that accusation because he?s never been tested positive. He?s been tested in every title fight and has passed every time. Just because he went from 106 lbs. to 147 lbs., does that mean he is on steroids?? Roach questioned, ?Floyd Mayweather, Jr. went from 106 to 154 lbs., does that mean he is on steroids too? That?s bull---t!? In December 30, 2009, Pacquiao filed a civil lawsuit versus Floyd, Jr., Sr. and Roger Mayweather, the Mayweather Promotions as well as Golden Boy Promotions? Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaeffer, demanding trial by jury. Until now, it has not been resolved and the case is still pending. When interviewed yesterday at the Wild Card Boxing Club of Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza told this writer, ?I?m not surprised that Manny Pacquiao tested negative again, Doc. He is a clean fighter! Manny is the pinnacle of an athlete that other fighters should emulate. He doesn?t berate his opponents. He is very respectful and professional.? With a melancholic voice, Ariza added, ?It is sad that people say things that cast a shadow on his accomplishments. Manny has never tested positive for PED (perfomance enhancing drugs) or steroids.? Strength and conditioning guru Alex Ariza, Pacquiao?s coach (R) with author (L) hanging out after visiting the Wild Card Gym. (Photo by LAPD?s finest Juan Padilla) Finally, the latest test results in Texas show that Manny Pacquiao, the current best pound per pound boxer in the world, is indeed a clean athlete. When this boxing writer/physician queried his colleague from the Texas Boxing Commission - ?Does this mean that Manny Pacquiao is a clean fighter and not using any steroids?? Dr. Molina simply answered, ?Absolutely!? Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto. |
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