An article which contains accusations that Manny Pacquiao used steroids and human growth hormone is now making the rounds on the Twittersphere. The explosive story is found on www.financebusinessarticles.com, and had been viewed over 700 times as of 4:15 ET on Thursday.
The website doesn’t, to be frank, feature any characteristics that would lead us to accept anything written on the website as the gospel truth. The story features the byline of one “mikejohnson313,” who fashions himself as a betting expert, and a quick check of his recent posts leads one to believe that English might well not be his native language. So one must view any allegations in the piece with more than a bit of skepticism. But, since the story is making the rounds, and Pacquiao foe Shane Mosley referred to it on his Twitter feed, it is newsworthy.
The story, and really, until I am shown otherwise, it has to be seen as a story, as pure fiction, I can’t emphasize this enough, says that “One of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s former sparring partners has admitted that he regularly injected the fighter with steroids “in the locker room, in the upper outer quarter of his butt cheek!”
“Johnson” writes that the ex sparing partner, a Filipino and pro boxer, won’t reveal his identity because he fears the wrath of his nation. “The Injector” says Pacquiao began using steroids before his December 2008 fight with Oscar De La Hoya. He started using the PED, “Injector” says, because he didn’t think he could beat the Golden Boy. “The Injector” says he administered steroids via injection to Pacquiao before his fights with Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, both in 2009.
“Once a week, right in the locker room of the Wild Card (Gym),” “Johnson” quotes the supposed ex sparring partner as saying, “Manny would drop his shorts and clench his teeth, and I would give him a jab in the upper outer quarter of his butt cheek. He hated every shot.”
The story says Pacquiao switched to HGH, mixed with insulin, to avoid detection after Floyd Mayweather and company started insinuating that Pacquiao cheated, and used illegal drugs to gain a performance edge.
“Johnson” says “The Injector” parted ways with Pacquiao after the Cotto fight, but that he “wishes him success” for the Mosley bout.
We’re not sure if Mosley read the piece to the end, but amusingly, the piece ends thusly: “I hope he kicks Mosley’s butt on Saturday, and I know he will. Mosley used to be a big time juicer, as everyone knows. Maybe he’s back on it for this fight. He sure needs to be!” Mosley, on his Twitter feed, wrote: “These are not my words it comes from a article And his sparring partner but if it is true!!!! Than what do you say please google.” It looks like his galpal Bella Gonzalez referred to the story first, on her feed, and then Mosley picked up on it.
I repeat: one should assume this is a piece of fiction until it’s proven otherwise. The Web can be a positive place, where information can be shared freely and quickly, but material found there must be viewed with an extra dose of skepticism, especially when found on a website with little to no rules, regulations and standards found within channels of real journalism.
